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Table 2 Descriptive characteristics of mothers and their newborn infants byneighbourhood economic status (N = 327901)

From: Are there differences in birth weight between neighbourhoods in a Nordic welfare state?

Variable

n per variable (% of total)

Affluent neighbourhoods

Medium neighbourhoods

Poor neighbourhoods

Test of significance (ANOVA or CHI-square)

Birthweight (g)

326469

3603

3572

3497

F = 734.8, df = 2,

Mean (SD)

(99.6%)

(536)

(549)

(556)

p < 0.001

Maternal height (cm)

291555

167.8

167.0

164.8

F = 3954.8, df = 2,

Mean (SD)

(88.9%)

(6.1)

(6.1)

(6.6)

p < 0.001

Gestational length

327402

   

Chi-value = 90.8,

   22–28 weeks

(99.8%)

0.2%

0.2%

0.2%

df = 8

   29–32 weeks

 

0.5%

0.6%

0.7%

P < 0.001

   33–36 weeks

 

3.4%

3.8%

4.1%

 

   37–41 weeks

 

95.1%

94.4%

93.9%

 

   ≥ 42 weeks

 

0.8%

1.0%

1.1%

 

Parity

327901

   

Chi-value= 4354.0,

   1

(100%)

38.5%

45.5%

40.7%

df = 4

   2–3

 

57.7%

50.2%

49.6%

P < 0.001

   ≥ 4

 

3.8%

4.4%

9.7%

 

Maternal age

327901

   

Chi-value= 15673.7,

   12–19 yrs

(100%)

0.3%

1.0%

2.8%

df = 10

   20–24 yrs

 

4.4%

11.6%

22.0%

P < 0.001

   25–29 yrs

 

26.2%

35.1%

35.1%

 

   30–34 yrs

 

43.7%

35.2%

26.4%

 

   35–39 yrs

 

21.4%

14.5%

11.4%

 

   ≥ 40 yrs

 

4.0%

2.7%

2.3%

 

Smoking habits

301715

   

Chi-value= 3637.5,

   0 cig/day

(92.0%)

92.7%

85.6%

79.8%

df = 4

   1–9 cig/day

 

5.2%

9.4%

12.3%

P < 0.001

   ≥ 10 cig/day

 

2.1%

5.0%

7.9%

 

Maternal education

321230

   

Chi-value= 30688.3,

   Elementary

(98.0%)

5.1%

11.1%

27.7%

df = 8

   Secondary (2 yrs)

 

36.5%

49.6%

50.6%

P < 0.001

   Secondary (3–4 yrs)

 

23.8%

20.0%

12.3%

 

   University

 

34.6%

19.3%

9.4%

 
  1. SD = standard deviation.