Weight at birth in Vienna, Austria, 1865-1930.

This study examines the relationship between weight at birth and socioeconomic influences in Vienna, Austria between 1865 and 1930, a period of industrial development followed by economic collapse and subsequent recovery. A random sample of maternity patients from the major hospital in Vienna was selected. Most patients were of low social and economic status. All live, singleton infants weighing 1500 g or more were included in the study. Multiple regression analysis reveals that ethnicity, religion and marital status did not influence birth weight variations and that sex, maternal age and birth order were strongly correlated with variations in birth weight means. It further reveals that the socioeconomic variables: occupation, season and year of birth, the length of a woman's stay in hospital prior to delivery and residential address were correlated with mean birth weight variations. Linear regression analysis suggests a moderately strong relationship between short-term fluctuations in the cost of living and mean birth weight.