Dammann O, Hellwege H H, Sommer B
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 1996 Apr;10(2):130-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1996.tb00037.x.
The reunification in 1990 of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) produced profound social transformations. Changes in the distribution of low birthweight (LBW, < 2500 g) in the two parts of the country between 1990 and 1992 have been studied by analysing vital statistics for the period. In absolute numbers, livebirths in the former FRG remained stable, while those in the former GDR declined by 51%. Numbers of LBW livebirths increased slightly in the former FRG and decreased in the former GDR; those in the category between 500 and 999 g remained stable in the former GDR and increased in the former FRG. However in terms of proportion, livebirths in this category doubled in the former GDR. Migration rates for the same period showed a shifting population from East to West particularly of young people, and maternal age-specific numbers of livebirths decreased in both countries. Psychosocial stress may have contributed to the rise in ELBW, but it is also possible that the improvement and sharing of perinatal management strategies may have led to increased survival of babies < 1000 g. Most importantly, the observed rise in the proportion of ELBW births (except those < 500 g) could be a result of the introduction of the more comprehensive definition of livebirth into the former GDR.
1990年德意志民主共和国（东德）与德意志联邦共和国（西德）的统一带来了深刻的社会变革。通过分析该时期的人口动态统计数据，研究了1990年至1992年期间该国两部分地区低出生体重（LBW，<2500克）分布的变化。从绝对数字来看，西德的活产数保持稳定，而东德的活产数下降了51%。西德低出生体重活产数略有增加，东德则有所下降；东德500至999克这一类别中的活产数保持稳定，西德则有所增加。然而，就比例而言，东德这一类别中的活产数翻了一番。同期的移民率显示人口从东向西流动，尤其是年轻人，两国按产妇年龄划分的活产数均有所下降。心理社会压力可能导致了超低出生体重儿（ELBW）数量的增加，但围产期管理策略的改进和共享也可能导致体重<1000克婴儿的存活率提高。最重要的是，观察到的超低出生体重儿出生比例上升（500克以下的除外）可能是由于东德采用了更全面的活产定义。
