[Acceleration of fetal growth].

By random sampling, a total of 656 newborn infants were selected, whose mothers knew the first day of their last menstruation. Newborn infants were divided into 3 groups: premature, at-term and postmature infants. Weight and height were measured in 583 at-term infants in 1954 and 1979. It was found that newborn infants of primiparas and multiparas from 1979 were statistically significantly heavier and longer than newborn infants from 1954. Newborn infants in 1979 of primiparas were 184.38 gm heavier and 2.33 cm longer and those of multiparas were 151.51 gm heavier and 2.31 cm longer than those in 1954. The differences were the same for male and female infants. In the same period, no statistically significant changes occurred in the frequency of at-term labours. In the 25-year period significant socio-economic changes occurred in the Zadar region which enabled better employment of the population in all economic branches, especially in tourism and industry.