Identification of low birth weight babies by birth weight-independent anthropometric measures
Journal Title: Indian Journal of Child Health - Year 2018, Vol 5, Issue 11
Abstract
Introduction: Birth weight (BW) is the single most important factor that affects neonatal mortality and infant and childhood morbidity. Most of the deliveries in rural areas are conducted at home, often by traditional birth attendants and relatives, where the facility to weigh the baby is not possible. There is a constant search for simple and effective method to identify at-risk low BW (LBW) babies. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify a single or combination of anthropometric data that reliably identify LBW babies. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in neonatal care unit of a teaching hospital. The study subjects included 141 singleton newborns with gestational age of between 32 and 42 weeks and within 24 h of birth were included in the study. Newborns that were sick or having congenital anomalies were excluded from the study. In all newborns, gestational age assessment and anthropometric data measurement were done within 24 h of birth by trained residents. Results: Male (54.0%) and female babies (46.0%) were similar in proportion. The mean BW was 2.54±0.53 kg and 43.3% were LBW babies (<2.5 kg). Calf circumference (CC), chest circumference (CHC), midarm circumference (MAC), head circumference (HC), and crown-to-heel length (CHL) showed significant and high positive correlation of 0.887, 0.871, 0.807, 0.77, and 0.724, respectively, with BW. The cutoff values corresponding with a BW of <2.5 kg with high sensitivity were as follows: CC ≤10.5 cm, CHC ≤32 cm, MAC ≤10 cm, HC ≤33.8 cm, and CHL ≤50 cm. Conclusions: CC was the single most useful anthropometric measure to predict LBW. Its sensitivity of 100% with relatively higher specificity of 67.5% indicates its ability mainly to rule out LBW in a baby, if CC is >10.5 cm.
Authors and Affiliations
Surender Kagithapu, Vijaykumar Gudur, Chodavarapu Ravikumar
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP473978
- DOI -
- Views 69
- Downloads 0
Effect of valproic acid monotherapy on thyroid function on short-term follow-up in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy
Background: The effect of valproic acid (VPA) monotherapy on thyroid function test is controversial. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of VPA monotherapy on thyroid function on short-term follow-up...
Effect of central adiposity on lung function tests in adolescents
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to study the relation of total body adiposity and abdominal adiposity markers with forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) in adole...
Spectrum of esophagitis in children with cerebral palsy - A clinical, endoscopic, and histopathological correlation
Background: Gastrointestinal disease is frequent in children with severe neurological impairment and developmental disability. Dysphagia may worsen due to concurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-GERD es...
Assessment of phototherapy-induced hypocalcemia and its correlation with urinary calcium excretion in term and preterm newborns with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A cross-sectional study with controls
Introduction: Although hypocalcemia is often proposed to be associated with phototherapy in both term and preterm newborns, its exact incidence, clinical significance, and underlying mechanism still remain to be elucidat...
Cerebral vein thrombosis complicating influenza A in a toddler
We describe a child who presented with a respiratory illness in the influenza pandemic season and was found to be positive for the influenza A, he developed neurological manifestations of cranial nerve palsies and was fo...