Observations on all Births (23,970) in Birmingham, 1947: V. Birth Weight related to Economic Circumstances of Parents

Abstract

The standard of housing has been used as a basis of classification of Birmingham city wards into 3 groups, to which single births for the year 1947 have been allocated by place of domicile. It is shown that birth weight is slightly but significantly lower in the poorest group than in the other 2 groups. This difference is not accounted for by differences in the birth rank of births in each group, and is greater when first births are compared. There are no differences in duration of gestation, as measured by the mean and percentage distribution.