title: Maternal weight and weight gain during pregnancy--can the arm circumference be used as surrogate?
abstract: A survey among pregnant Nigerian women attending an antenatal clinic showed a strong correlation between the arm circumference and weight. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of mid-arm circumference less than 23 cm for first trimester weight of less than 45 kg was 85.7% and 54.5% respectively. In the second trimester, these values for mid-arm circumference of less than 24 cm and weight less than 50 kg were 55.6% and 32.3% respectively. The specificity was high, ranging up to 99.4%. The value of the screening was found to be higher amongst primigravidas. Mid-arm circumference was however found to be insensitive for monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy. Strips based on this principle may be useful as a screening tool especially for low cadre health workers to identify pregnant women considered nutritionally at risk.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Child Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Olukoya
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Giwa-Osagie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009549:Nigeria; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015430:Weight Gain