Soziodemografie von Erstgebärenden und Mehrfachgebärenden in einer bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Erhebung – Ergebnisse des Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP)

BACKGROUND: The official birth statistics are regarded as a reliable data source on births and birth rate in the German population. However, they show methodological limitations with respect to the identification of first-time mothers and the number of children per mother. The mothers' social and economical background is not assessed. The goal of the present analysis was (a) to describe demographic and socio-economic variables of all births in a defined region over a fixed time-frame and (b) to make a comparison on the basis of parity and gravidity. METHOD: From 2004-2007 4,982 children were born in the region and data from n=4,788 children were assessed (96%); n=3,505 (73%) of these mothers consented to a more detailed assessment. RESULTS: The fertility rate in the SniP region is low. There are fewer children per 1,000 women and born per women in general. The average age of primiparae was 25 and 26 years. As can be expected there is a significant difference between primiparae and multiparae with respect to age. There is also a difference in occupational status. 17% of the primiparae have been multigravidae. CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION: For the first time in Germany, the SNiP collected comprehensive population-based data on the age and socio-demographic variables of children and their mothers in a defined geographical region. A significant discrepancy for average age of primiparae between the study results and the official statistics is discussed in the light of methodological and regional issues. Our results require the continuation of comprehensive population-based data assessment. Furthermore, the SniP region could serve as a model region for future research. In international comparisons Germany's reproductive behaviour has proved to be unfavourable, which is accentuated in the region under examination.