SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND LIFESTYLE DETERMINANTS OF BIRTH WEIGHT IN NORTH WEST RUSSIA.

The importance of adequate antenatal development on future health is widely recognised. Birth weight (BW) is a strong predictor of infant mortality and morbidity in childhood. Moreover, compromised fetal growth is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in adults. Socioeconomic disparities in BW exist in various settings. The rapid transition to a market economy considerably increased financial and social inequalities in Russia. This study quantifies the effects of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors on BW in a town of Severodvinsk.