Objective:

to determine the differences in weight at birth in term newborns of Spanish mothers and mothers of South American and North African origin, born in Rafael Méndez Hospital (Murcia, Spain).

Subjects and methods:

the study includes only newborns at term, with single, normal and controlled gestation of healthy, without toxic habits mothers. Sample of 240 women of Spanish, North African and South American origin, consisting of 80 women in each group. Preterm, multiple pregnancy or high-risk pregnancy newborns were excluded, as well as those dead at peripartum period. The results are presented using graphs and frequency tables, mean values and standard deviation for each participating group, and the analysis of the differences by Anova test.

Results:

mean birth weight by mother origin: Bolivia/Ecuador was 3481 g, for Morocco was 3505 g and for Spain was 3331 g, which is lower than the rest of nationalities (p = 0,0474).

Conclusions:

the weight of newborns of Spanish mothers is lower than the weight of children of mothers from other origins.

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