A cross-sectional study of newborns over a 20-year period in Szeged, Hungary.
OBJECTIVE
Records of metric data of birth, serve not only the medical needs of the newborn baby, but are also indicators to assess the status of public health.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study of 4946 newborns (singleton: 2508 boys and 2365 girls) born in 1989 and in 2009 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Szeged. We aimed as to compare and map the metrical changes over 20 years, and to describe the averages of four body parameters of the normal birth weight (2500-4000 g) subgroup (3993 singleton babies) in both years. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 17.0.


RESULTS
In 1989, the mean birth weight was 3223.770 ± 559.595 g, birth length 49.551 ± 2.729 cm, chest circumference 32.181 ± 2.231 cm, and head circumference 34.122 ± 1.688 cm. In 2009, the birth weight was 3309.673 ± 582.630 g, birth length 49.515 ± 2.658 cm, chest circumference 32.736 ± 2.392 cm and head circumference 33.854 ± 1.768 cm. The mean birth weight, chest circumference and the maximum value of birth weight have thus increased. The mean maternal age shifted to 30.21 ± 4.863 years, which is an increase of 3.57 years in 20 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The body parameters of newborns changed significantly between 1989 and 2009. As underlying causes changes in eating habits and lifestyle of the mother are to be mentioned.
Department of Anthropology and.
Karola
K
Kálló
Sarolt
S
Lehóczki
Zsuzsanna
Z
Just
Zita
Z
Gyurkovits
György
G
Pálfi
Hajnalka
H
Orvos
D001724:Birth Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000639:trends*; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
Birth length; birth weight; chest circumference; developmental status; head circumference; metric data; newborn