title: Recent trends in the incidence of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems in Korea.
abstract: The aim of this study was to survey multiple birth data and to analyze the recent trends of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems in Korea from 1991 to 2008. Data were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service. The total number of multiple births showed increasing trends. The multiple birth rate was maintained within less than 10.0 for the decade from 1981 to 1990. However, it increased gradually to reach 27.5 in 2008. The maternal age for multiple births was higher than for total live births. The mean birth weight of the total live births was 3.23 kg; for the multiple births it was 2.40 kg in 2008. The incidence of low birth weight infants (LBWI) among total live births was 3.8% in 2000 and 4.9% in 2008. For multiple births it was 49.2% and 53.0% during the same years. The incidence of preterm births among total live births was 3.8% in 2000 and 5.5% in 2008; for the multiple births it was 38.3% and 51.5% during the same years. The incidence of multiple births and its consequences on perinatal problems (preterm, LBWI, and advanced-maternal age) have been increased steadily over the last two decades in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kye Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Yong Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Won Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Chong-Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D001723:Birth Rate / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D047928:Premature Birth; D056910:Republic of Korea