[Birth rate, stillbirth rate and infant mortality of legitimate and illegitimate newborn infants in Austria 1987-1996: an ecological study]. / Geburtsgewicht, Totgeburtenrate und Säuglingssterblichkeit von ehelichen und unehelichen Geborenen in Osterreich von 1987 bis 1996: eine Ekologische Studie.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The infant mortality in babies of single mothers in Great Britain is 33% higher than in babies of married mothers. There exists hardly any recent publication on infant mortality and stillbirth rate in association with the marital state of the mother from other European countries. METHODS: From 1987 to 1996 birth weight, stillbirth rate and infant mortality of all Austrian legitimate and illegitimate births were registered by the Austrian Central Statistical Office. Differences between the legitimate and illegitimate newborns were analysed. RESULTS: Within the observation period there was a clear overall reduction (48%) of infant mortality from 9.8 to 5.1 per 1000. Overall stillbirth rate remained stable at 3.7 per 1000 births. The birth weight of illegitimate infants was significantly lower and their weighted average stillbirth rate was 20.4% higher (range -10% to +48%) over the ten year observation period. The weighted average infant mortality during the observation period was 24% higher (range 0% to +44%) for illegitimate infants. CONCLUSION: In Austria illegitimate birth was associated with lower birth weight, higher stillbirth rate and increased infant mortality between 1986 and 1997.