Comparison of Anthropometric Characteristics of German-born Vs. Asian-born Mothers and Their Neonates – an Analysis of the German Perinatal Survey (19th Communication)

Abstract

Aim: To compare anthropometric characteristics of German-born vs. Asian-born mothers and their neonates. Material and Methods: We analysed data from the German Perinatal Survey of 1995–2000; 1 907 265 singleton pregnancies occurred in women originating from Germany and 23 206 occurred in women originating from Asia. We compared maternal height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) as well as birth weight, neonatal body length, and neonatal head circumference. Neonates were classified by birth weight percentiles: neonates < 10th birth weight percentile were “small for gestational age” (SGA), those > 90th birth weight percentile were “large for gestational age” (LGA), all others were “appropriate for gestational age” (AGA). Results: German-born and Asian-born mothers differed considerably in anthropometric measures; German-born women were taller, heavier, and more likely to be obese. Neonatal anthropometric measures also differed; mean birth weight, body length, and head circumference all indicated that neonates of Asian-born mothers were smaller. For term births, birth weight percentiles of neonates of Asian-born mothers were mostly below those of neonates of German-born mothers. Neonates of Asian-born mothers were more often classified as SGA and less often as LGA when birth weight percentiles of the overall population (regardless of maternal country of origin) were used. Conclusions: Considerable differences exist in the anthropometric characteristics of German-born vs. Asian-born mothers and their neonates. Awareness of such differences is important in obstetric and neonatal practice, especially with regard to the somatic classification of neonates as SGA, AGA, or LGA.