Relationship Of Birth Weight Research Articles

The Relationship of Birth Weight With Longitudinal Changes in Body Composition in Adult Women

Most research on birth weight and adult health status has reported adult measures at a single time point. This study examined the relationship of self-reported birth weight to longitudinal changes in adult body composition in 587 women of the Michigan Bone Health and Metabolism Study, followed from 1992 to 2007 and aged 24-50 years at baseline. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association between three birth weight categories and women's 15-year changes in adult weight, height, BMI, waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and fat, lean, and skeletal muscle mass. Body composition measures increased in all women over the 15-year study period. At their adult baseline, high birth weight women weighed 13% more and had waist circumference and lean mass measures that were 5.51cm and 3.91kg larger, respectively, than normal birth weight women. No differences were observed in adult body composition between low and normal birth weight women and rates of change in the adult measures did not vary across the birth weight groups. Women heavier at birth continued to be heavier through adulthood, corroborating previous reports based on single measures of adult body composition. Research to address whether higher adult body composition in high birth weight women increases the longitudinal risk for obesity-related chronic diseases is needed.

Decreased birth weight in relation to maternal urinary trichloroacetic acid levels

BackgroundThe effect of exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) during pregnancy on newborn's birth weight has been commonly described in animal studies. However, epidemiological evidence was not consistent. ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between exposure to DBPs and newborn's birth weight in a Chinese population, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Wuhan, China. MethodsA total number of 398 women who had given birth to a live singleton with a gestational age between 37 to 42weeks were recruited from a local hospital between November 2008 and May 2009. Basic information for all mothers and newborns was obtained from clinic birth records. Among these subjects, 180 women also gave further information including maternal medical history, social status and water-use behaviors by a face-to-face interview. Urinary creatinine (Cr) adjusted trichloroacetic (TCAA) was used as an exposure biomarker. ResultsNo statically significant results were found in the linear regression for both 398 participants and 180 participants who finished questionnaires. However, both the crude and adjusted results showed that the mean birth weight of the subjects in the third and top quartiles of Cr-adjusted urinary TCAA concentrations was decreased compared with those in the lowest quartile. Subjects in the top quartiles had the lowest mean birth weight compared to those in other quartiles. In addition, a weak correlation was observed among 82 subjects between drinking water ingestion and urinary Cr-adjusted TCAA (r=0.23, P=0.04). ConclusionOur findings suggested that elevated exposure to DBPs may affect fetal growth. The effect of exposure to DBPs during pregnancy on birth weight still warrants further investigations.

Perinatal Programming of Childhood Asthma: Early Fetal Size, Growth Trajectory during Infancy, and Childhood Asthma Outcomes

The “fetal origins hypothesis” or concept of “developmental programming” suggests that faltering fetal growth and subsequent catch-up growth are implicated in the aetiology of cardiovascular disease. Associations between reduced birth weight, rapid postnatal weight gain, and asthma suggest that there are fetal origins to respiratory disease. The present paper first summarises the literature relating birth weight and post natal growth trajectories to asthma outcomes. Second, issues regarding the interpretation of antenatal fetal ultrasound measurements are discussed. Finally, recent reports linking antenatal measurement and growth trajectory to early childhood asthma outcomes are discussed. Understanding the nature and timing of factors which influence antenatal growth may give important insight into the antecedents of early-onset asthma with implications for interventions.

408: The relationship of birth weight to body mass index and blood pressure at ages 3-5 years

408: The relationship of birth weight to body mass index and blood pressure at ages 3-5 years

Relationships of Birthweight and Postnatal Growth with Metabolic Risk Factors in Junior School Children in Korea

We investigated the relationships of birthweight and postnatal growth with the components of metabolic syndrome and their clustering in young schoolchildren in Korea. The subjects comprised 261 children aged 7-9 years who were recruited from an elementary school. Information on birthweight was obtained from their parents using a questionnaire, and data were also collected via anthropometric measurement, and biochemical examinations including blood. The current body mass index (BMI) and change in weight SD score were associated with clustering of metabolic risk factors. Those in the lowest birthweight group ( < 2.5kg) had an approximately sixfold increased risk of clustering of metabolic syndrome components compared to the others when adjusted for gender, age, current BMI, and maternal factors. Accelerated growth was also associated with an approximately tenfold increased risk for adverse effect regarding clustering of metabolic risk factors than those with normal growth patterns, even in children aged 7-9 years. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) were the only components that were positively associated with weight SD score change and current BMI. The results of this study suggest that monitoring growth throughout childhood is necessary to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Birth weight and postnatal growth of pure-bred kittens

Data on body weight of pure-bred kittens (Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat, Birman, Persian, Siamese/Oriental Shorthair Cat) from birth (n 245) to 12 weeks of age (n 135) were obtained from breeders. Absolute birth weight (in g) was higher in larger breeds than in smaller breeds, whereas relative birth weight (in % of mature female weight) tended to be higher in smaller breeds (Maine Coon 115 g, 2.3 %; Norwegian Forest Cat 106 g, 2.7 %; Birman 97 g, 2.8 %; Siamese 92 g, 2.8 %; Persian 82 g, 3.2 %). Relative birth weight was lower than that described in the literature for colony cats. Relative litter weight was highest in Norwegian Forest Cats (14.6 (SD 1.8) %; n 10) and lowest in Birmans (8.8 (SD 3.1) %, n 7; P < 0.05); the other breeds were in-between (11.9 (SD 2.0) %; n 19). Absolute growth was faster in larger breeds than in smaller breeds. In relation to expected mature weight, there was good agreement with data from colony cats but no clear-cut effect of breed size. There appeared to be a trend to an earlier onset of sexual dimorphism in larger breeds.

Association Between Biofuel Exposure and Adverse Birth Outcomes at High Altitudes in Peru: A Matched Case-control Study

Nearly one-third of the Peruvian population burns biofuels for cooking. Similarly, approximately one-third of this population lives at high altitudes. Cooking with biofuels and living at high altitudes have been implicated in adverse perinatal outcomes. This study attempted to determine the risk of low birth weight (LBW) and/or preterm delivery in relation to biofuel use in inhabitants at high altitudes in Peru. A matched-case study was performed in two high-altitude cities. All subjects (n=190) were identified from public-hospital records. Cases were matched by hospital by week of birth and area of residence. Cases were defined as: women with an at-term but LBW newborn; or women with a preterm birth. Adjusted conditional logistic regression analyses were used to determine odds ratio. Fifty-two percent of the cases used biofuel whereas only 30% of the controls used biofuel. The use of biofuel for cooking was found to be strongly associated with increased risks of LBW, but was not significantly linked to preterm births.

Seasonal variation in fetal growth: accounting for sociodemographic, biological, and environmental exposures

We sought to investigate seasonal variation in fetal growth, accounting for important sociodemographic, biological, and environmental exposures. Records of births 1998 through 2006 in Perth, Western Australia were obtained (N = 147,357). We investigated small for gestational age and sex and the proportion of optimal birthweight (POBW) in relation to seasonal exposures (season, temperature, sunlight) by trimester of pregnancy. Adjustment was made for a wide range of risk factors. The POBW for neonates with third trimesters predominantly in summer was 0.18% (0.00-0.36%) lower than for those in winter. POBW decreased by 0.14% (0.01-0.27%) per interquartile range increase in third-trimester temperature (9.15°C). An interquartile range increase in temperature over pregnancy (0.73°C) was associated with an odds ratio of 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.05) for small for gestational age and sex. Reduced fetal growth was associated with elevated ambient temperatures throughout and late in pregnancy, independently of air pollution and other risk factors.

Height at diagnosis and birth-weight as risk factors for osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma typically occurs during puberty. Studies of the association between height and/or birth-weight and osteosarcoma are conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a large pooled analysis of height and birth-weight in osteosarcoma. Patient data from seven studies of height and three of birth-weight were obtained, resulting in 1,067 cases with height and 434 cases with birth-weight data. We compared cases to the 2000 US National Center for Health Statistics Growth Charts by simulating 1,000 age- and gender-matched controls per case. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between height or birth-weight and risk of osteosarcoma for each study were estimated using logistic regression. All of the case data were combined for an aggregate analysis. Compared to average birth-weight subjects (2,665-4,045 g), individuals with high birth-weight (≥ 4,046 g) had an increased osteosarcoma risk (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-1.79). Taller than average (51st - 89th percentile) and very tall individuals (≥ 90th percentile) had an increased risk of osteosarcoma (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.54 and OR 2.60, 95% CI 2.19-3.07, respectively; P (trend) < 0.0001). This is the largest analysis of height at diagnosis and birth-weight in relation to osteosarcoma. It suggests that rapid bone growth during puberty and in utero contributes to OS etiology.

Birth Weight in Relation to Sex Steroid Status and Body Composition in Young Healthy Male Siblings

Birth Weight in Relation to Sex Steroid Status and Body Composition in Young Healthy Male Siblings

Efeito do treinamento físico e da desnutrição durante a gestação sobre os eixos cranianos de ratos neonatos

Nos períodos críticos de desenvolvimento do organismo, estímulos ambientais como o exercício físico e a dieta podem influenciar o fluxo placentário e o crescimento somático fetal. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as repercussões do treinamento físico e da desnutrição durante a gestação sobre os eixos cranianos de ratos neonatos. Ratos machos Wistar foram divididos de acordo com a manipulação de suas mães: não treinados controle (Cf, n = 25), treinados (Tf, n = 25), não treinados e desnutridos (Df, n = 25), treinados e desnutridos (TDf, n = 25). Mães treinadas (T e TD) foram submetidas a oito semanas de treinamento físico moderado antes e durante a gestação (60min/dia, cinco dias/sem a 65% do VO2max). Mães desnutridas (D e TD) receberam dieta hipoproteica durante a gestação (8% caseína) enquanto as nutridas (C e T) receberam dieta normoproteica (17% caseína). No primeiro dia pós-natal foi verificado número de filhotes nascidos por ninhada, peso da ninhada e peso ao nascer, eixo látero-lateral do crânio (ELLC) e anteroposterior do crânio (EAPC), eixo longitudinal do corpo (EL) e comprimento da cauda (CC) de cada neonato. No terceito dia pós-parto, os encéfalos foram extraídos e pesados. Durante a gestação, as fêmeas dos grupos T e D apresentaram menor ganho de peso em comparação ao grupo C na terceira semana (C = 34,4 ± 1,3; T = 30,7 ± 0,60; D = 25,8 ± 0,78; TD = 29,9 ± 0,83). Os grupos desnutridos apresentaram menor peso ao nascer em relação aos seus respectivos controles (Cf = 6,3 ± 0,1; Tf = 6,3 ± 0,1; Df = 4,7 ± 0,07; TDf = 5,0 ± 0,06). O grupo Df apresentou as medidas do ELLC (Cf = 9,8 ± 0,06; Tf = 9,8 ± 0,05; Df = 9,2 ± 0,04; TDf = 9,6 ± 0,13) e EAPC (Cf = 18,1 ± 0,1; Tf = 18,2 ± 0,1; Df = 17,5 ± 0,1; TDf = 18,0 ± 0,2) menores comparadas aos filhotes controles. Com base nos resultados, pode-se concluir que a desnutrição no período fetal alterou o desenvolvimento somático enquanto o treinamento físico influenciou positivamente os eixos do crânio dos conceptos.

PP-330. Tuberculin skin test and BCG scarring after BCG vaccination in preterms

Shortening of gestation and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are the two main determinants of birthweight. Low birthweight has been linked with prenatal arsenic exposure, but the causal relation between arsenic and birthweight is not well understood.We applied a quantile causal mediation analysis approach to determine the association between prenatal arsenic exposure and birthweight in relation to shortening of gestation and IUGR, and whether the susceptibility of arsenic exposure varies by infant birth sizes.In a longitudinal birth cohort in Bangladesh, we measured arsenic in drinking water (n = 1182) collected at enrollment and maternal toenails (n = 1104) collected ≤ 1-month postpartum using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Gestational age was determined using ultrasound at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation. Demographic information was collected using a structured questionnaire.Of 1184 singleton livebirths, 16.4% (n = 194) were low birthweight (< 2500 g), 21.9% (n = 259) preterm (< 37 weeks' gestation), and 9.2% (n = 109) both low birthweight and preterm. The median concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and maternal toenails were 2.2 μg/L (range: below the level of detection [LOD] − 1400) and 1.2 μg/g (range: < LOD − 46.6), respectively. Prenatal arsenic exposure was negatively associated with birthweight, where the magnitude of the association varied across birthweight percentiles. The effect of arsenic on birthweight mediated via shortening of gestation affected all infants irrespective of birth sizes (β range: 10th percentile = − 19.7 g [95% CI: − 26.7, − 13.3] to 90th percentile = − 10.9 g [95% CI: − 18.5, − 5.9] per natural log water arsenic increase), whereas the effect via pathways independent of gestational age affected only the smaller infants (β range: 10th percentile = − 28.0 g [95% CI: − 43.8, − 9.9] to 20th percentile = − 14.9 g [95% CI: − 30.3, − 1.7] per natural log water arsenic increase). Similar pattern was observed for maternal toenail arsenic.The susceptibility of prenatal arsenic exposure varied by infant birth sizes, placing smaller infants at greater risk of lower birthweight by shortening of gestation and possibly growth restriction. It is important to mitigate prenatal arsenic exposure to improve perinatal outcomes in Bangladesh.

Trends in caesarean section and instrumental deliveries in relation to Body Mass Index: a clinical survey during 1978 - 2001

BackgroundDuring the last 20 years the rate of CS has increased in Sweden as it has in many other countries. The proportion of pregnant women suffering from a high BMI has also increased rapidly during the same time period. It would therefore be of interest to study both how and if these two observations are related to each other. The aim was therefore to study trends in mode of caesarean section (CS) and instrumental deliveries among women in three BMI groups over a time span of almost 25 years with special focus on the observed body weight of pregnant women.MethodThe design is a retrospective cohort study using medical records of consecutively delivered women at two delivery wards in South East Sweden during the years 1978, 1986, 1992, 1997 and 2001.ResultsNo significant time-trends were found for CS and instrumental delivery within each BMI-group for the time period studied. The proportion of women with BMI ≥ 25 delivered by means of CS or instrumental delivery increased quite dramatically from 1978 to 2001 (χ2 test for trend; p < 0.001 for both CS and instrumental deliveries). The mean birth weight in relation to BMI and year of study among women delivered by means of CS decreased, a trend that was most evident between 1997 and 2001 (F-test; p = 0.005, p = 0.004, and p = 0.003 for BMI < 20, 20-24.9, and ≥ 25, respectively).ConclusionOverweight and obese pregnant women constitute a rapidly growing proportion of the total number of CS and instrumental deliveries. Planning and allocation of health resources must be adjusted to this fact and its implications.

Abstract 5749: Birth weight and sex hormones in adolescent girls: Results from the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC)

Abstract The purpose of the present study is to explore the association of birth weight and concentrations of sex hormones (serum estrogens, progesterone, androgens and sex hormone blinding globulin (SHBG)) among girls participating in the Hormone Ancillary Study (HAS) of the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC), a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effect of a reduced fat diet intervention on serum hormones. Serum was collected at 5 points during the study and captured the participants’ before, during, and after puberty. Of the 301 girls in DISC, 263 participated in the HAS and had a reported birth weight. Hormones were measured by radioimunnoassay and SHBG was measured by an immunoradiometric assay. Mixed linear regression models were used to calculate hormone concentrations during follow-up after controlling for potential covariates including DISC intervention assignment. Preliminary results for 203 participants suggest an inverse association of birth weight and concentration of DHEAS throughout the 7 years of follow-up after adjusting for years until/ since menarche and other covariates (P ≤ 0.05). An inverse association between birth weight and pre-menarche concentration of androstenedione was observed (P ≤ 0.05), but the relationship did not maintain statistical significance after adjusting for years until menarche (P ≤ 0.24); suggesting that effect of birth weight on pre-menarche androstenedione concentrations may occur in part via the association of birth weight and age at menarche. Post-menarche concentrations of SHBG were positively associated with birth weight, independent of years since menarche (P ≤ 0.05) and other covariates. Luteal phase estradiol, free estradiol and estrone concentrations were positively associated with birth weight, independent of years since menarche and other covariates (P = 0.04, 0.03, 0.05 respectively). No association was found among the other hormones under investigation or the follicular phase estrogens. In conclusion, these data suggest that pre-menarche androstenedione concentration may be inversely associated with birth weight, but this association is likely mediated by the relationship of birth weight and age at menarche. Conversely, the relationships between birth weight and DHEAS, post-menarche SHBG, and certain luteal phase estrogens appear to be independent of the effect of birth weight on age at menarche. Although untested, it is possible that birth weight, as a proxy for in utero hormone exposure, could potentially influence breast cancer risk via long-term effects on pubertal sex hormones on breast tissue development. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5749.

Placental weight, digitally derived placental dimensions at term and their relationship to birth weight

Objective. A few recent studies have investigated the relationship between birth weight and digitally derived placental dimensions, and no standardised methodology has been used. The aims of this study are to compare manually derived placental measurements with those derived digitally and to establish the relationship of birth weight to the placental weight and circumference.Methods. Three hundred fifty-one consecutive unselected women with singleton pregnancy delivering in a tertiary maternity unit at 37–42 weeks were recruited. Manual and digital placental axis measurements (using calibrated digital imaging and ‘Image J’ software) were obtained and the circumference derived. The relationship between the two methods was assessed using a Bland–Altman plot analysed. The relationship between z-scores of birth weight, placental weight and placental circumference was investigated.Results. Manually and digitally obtained placental long axis, short axis and circumference measurements show close correlation (r = 0.70, 0.70 and 0.83, respectively). The z score of birth weight is significantly correlated with the z score of placental weight (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) and z score placental digital circumference (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Birth weight:placental weight ratio is 7.20 and birth weight:placental circumference = 64.57 g/cm.Conclusion. There is close though not perfect agreement between the manual and digital placental measurements. Birth weight is strongly correlated with placental weight and circumference at term.

TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR ENGINEERING: Association of stress‐related perinatal factors and cord blood unit hematopoietic progenitors is dependent on delivery mode

BACKGROUND: Perinatal characteristics, variably utilized in cord blood (CB) selection for banking, affect CB hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). The association between perinatal stress factors and CB unit HPCs was evaluated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Umbilical arterial (UA) pH, absolute and relative birth weight (BW) and placental weight (PW), and PW/BW ratio of 167 healthy, full‐term infants were compared with CB unit prefreeze total nucleated cells (TNCs), total CD34+ (TCD34+) cells, and total colony‐forming unit (CFU‐TOT) number. Cesarean section (C‐section, n = 104) and vaginal delivery subgroups were also analyzed.RESULTS: UA pH (median, 7.28; range, 7.04‐7.40) correlated with CB unit CFU‐TOT number (n = 166; r = −0.32, p &lt; 0.0001), TCD34+ cells (r = −0.31, p &lt; 0.0001), and TNCs (r = −0.29, p = 0.0002). Similarly, BW, PW, and PW/BW ratio correlated with HPCs. In multiple linear regression analysis, CFU‐TOT number was predicted by collected CB TNCs and UA pH in vaginal deliveries (R2 = 0.53), in contrast with TNCs, PW, and BW in C‐sections (R2 = 0.37). TCD34+ cells were predicted by adding UA pH (vaginal deliveries, R2 = 0.75) or PW (C‐sections, R2 = 0.36) to collected CB TNCs.CONCLUSIONS: Stress‐related perinatal factors, particularly UA pH, are associated with CB unit HPCs and may improve unit selection. Multiple linear regression models may prove useful for predicting HPCs. Mode of delivery affects model choice; UA pH has a strong effect on HPCs in vaginal deliveries.

Low Birthweight in Relation to Placental Abruption and Maternal Thrombophilia Status

Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate whether the association between low birthweight and placental abruption is mediated through preterm birth or restricted fetal growth and whether these associations were influenced by maternal thrombophilia status. Study Design Data were derived from the New Jersey–Placental Abruption Study, an ongoing, multicenter, case-control study conducted in New Jersey since August 2002. Abruption cases (n = 156) were identified based on a clinical diagnosis, and controls (n = 170) were matched to cases based on parity and maternal race. Low birthweight ( Results Among abruption cases, 60.3% (n = 94) were low birthweight in comparison with 11.2% (n = 19) of controls (OR, 13.7; 95% CI, 7.4-25.2). Furthermore, placental abruption had a significantly increased association with preterm birth in both small for gestational age (OR, 17.4; 95% CI, 4.6-64.9) and appropriately grown fetuses (OR, 15.8; 95% CI, 8.4-29.8). However, the association between abruption and low birthweight were similar between women with and without thrombophilia. Conclusion The association between placental abruption and low birthweight is chiefly mediated through preterm birth, and this association does not appear to be modified by maternal thrombophilia status.

Low birth weight in relation to maternal age and multiple pregnancies at Muhimbili National Hospital

To determine the relationship between Low Birth Weight (LBW), maternal age and multiple pregnancies A retrospective cross-sectional study was done where by data were obtained from labor ward register books and computer database of the MNH labour ward and analyzed by using EPI-INFO version 6 computer program. Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) A total of 6931 infants were studied. Prevalence of LBW and multiple births were 26.4% and 2.9% respectively. There was no significant association between age of mother with LBW although a significant association between multiple pregnancy and LBW was noted. Multiple pregnancy contribute substantially to LBW. There is a need of ensuring proper antenatal care and also highlighting the need both for basic supportive care facilities and improved disease prevention strategies.

Birth Weight in Relation to Sex Steroid Status and Body Composition in Young Healthy Male Siblings

Sex steroid concentrations have a strong genetic determination, but environmental factors and body composition play an important role. From studies in children with intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight has been associated with altered gonadotropin concentrations. We aim to investigate sex steroid concentrations in healthy young brothers in relation to birth weight (normal gestational age), body composition, and parental steroid concentrations. We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based sibling pair study with inclusion of parental data. A total of 677 men (25-45 yr old) were included in this study, with 296 independent pairs of brothers and 122 fathers. We measured testosterone, estradiol, leptin, adiponectin, IGF-I (immunoassays), and free steroid hormones (calculated) in relation to birth weight and changes in body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry). Birth weight was associated with serum testosterone (P = 0.0004) and SHBG (P = 0.0001), independent from weight, age, or fat mass, whereas no association with (free) estradiol, LH, or FSH was found. Paternal testosterone (P = 0.02), estradiol (P = 0.04), and SHBG (P = 0.0004) were associated with the respective sex steroid concentrations in the brothers. Weight increase (population rank) during life, was associated with lower testosterone (-15%; P < 0.001), independent from current weight and with higher free estradiol concentrations (+8%; P = 0.002), whereas weight decrease was associated with higher testosterone (+13%; P < 0.001). Birth weight and paternal steroid concentrations are associated with testosterone concentrations, independent from adult weight. These findings support the concept of in utero programming across the range of birth weight.

Pregnancies and births among adolescents: A population-based prospective study in rural Vietnam

Objective To describe birth rates and pregnancy outcomes, specifically stillbirth, preterm delivery and low birth weight (LBW) in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, among adolescent women in a rural district in northern Vietnam. Material and method Within an epidemiological field laboratory, quarterly surveillance of 7767 adolescent women in the ages 15–19 during the period January 1999 to December 2005 was conducted. Birth rates were calculated and pregnancy outcomes were described in relation to background factors. Result A total of 1021 pregnancies were reported by 926 adolescent women during the period of whom 17% were below 18 years. The estimated adolescent birth rate during 1999–2005 was 27/1000 women-years. The incidence of stillbirth among all births was 19/1000 births. These were more likely to be delivered preterm. The incidence of preterm deliveries and LBW infants was 193 and 75 per 1000 live births, respectively. There were no differences in socio-demographic background for stillbirth, preterm delivery or LBW. Conclusion Adolescent birth rates were similar to those found in the recent Vietnamese DHS and considerably lower than the average for South-East Asia. Higher rates of stillbirth and preterm delivery were found than those previously reported for Vietnam, indicating the need for careful monitoring of adolescent pregnancies and their infants. Further research is needed to explore if and how much socio-demographic variables influence pregnancy outcome, comparing more differentiated groups, as a basis for interventions to assure access to adequate reproductive health care services for all women.