[Are unmarried pregnant women candidates for high risk delivery regarding low birth weight? (author's transl)].

Evidence has been produced to higher risk for unmarried pregnant women to deliver children with low birth weight, with reference being made to the files of the Gynaecological Hospital of the Region of Schwerin and, more particularly, to single live births, between 1969 and 1977. That higher risk was found to depend on other factors, as well, with particular emphasis on residence and occupation. The risk, however, was found to be lowered, when it came to second births and decline in the rate of low birth weight, in the context of unmarried mothers. Yet, the decline was less strong, as compared to married mothers, and the risk associated with unmarried women, consequently, remains to be regularly 60 per cent above average. These findings are considered by the authors as being relevant to supervision and guidance of women during pregnancy.