title: A study of mid-arm and chest circumferences as predictors of low birthweight.
abstract: Nine hundred ninety-nine newborns were examined in order to determine the relationship between birthweight and mid-arm and chest circumstances. An early neonatal mortality rate of 51/1000 was recorded, being much higher for preterm (301/1000) than term babies (2.5/1000). Both mid-arm and chest circumference showed highly significant correlations with birthweight (r = 0.872, P less than 0.0001 and r = 0.918, P less than 0.0001, respectively). The correlation between weight and chest circumstances was upheld even for very small babies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rogo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nyagudi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*