Introduction Deprivation is a known risk factor for low birthweight and adverse neonatal outcome. The authors set out to characterise the impact of social intervention strategies within the most deprived areas in Leeds.

Methods Maternal and neonatal data were gathered from the maternity system for the years 2000–2008. Information collected included birthweight, gestational age (GA) at delivery and maternal postcode. Small-for-gestational age (SGA) was indicated for babies falling below the 10th centile of birthweight for their GA. Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) were assigned using the 2004 classification, and the 152 medium sized output areas divided into five equal groups to represent the spectrum of deprivation within Leeds. 32 of the 44 SureStart centres within Leeds were located within the most deprived fifth. Poisson regression was used to model rates of SGA by year, together with IMD category.

Results 65 535 deliveries were recorded over the study period. 8.3% of births were SGA, ranging from 5.4% in the least deprived fifth, up to 11.0% in the most deprived fifth. There was a stepwise increase in the incidence of SGA with increasing deprivation:

The gap between most and least deprived groups narrowed marginally between 2000 and 2008, but this was not statistically significant (p=0.2).

Conclusion These data suggest that further community strategies are likely to be required in order to reduce the incidence of SGA in deprived areas.