title: Foot tape measure for identification of low birth weight newborns.
abstract: The majority of births in rural India take place at home, Logistic constraints make early and reliable identification of low birth weight babies difficult. Using neonatal foot length as a proxy measure for birth weight, we devised a tri colored foot tape intended for use at home by the neonatal caretaker or birth attendant. The tape was field tested in a rural community in the Pune district. Results showed a sensitivity of 68.2% and a predictive value of 45.5% for identifying low birth weight. For very low birth weights (< 1500 g) the sensitivity was 100%, specificity 95.2% and the positive predictive value 60%. Interobserver reliability comparing a trained medical social worker and the household member was high (kappa score of 0.82). If implemented on a larger scale this simple, low cost technology has the potential to significantly enhance the yield of identification of low birth weight babies born at home.
authors.affiliation: K.E.M. Hospital Research Center, Rasta Peth, Pune.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hirve
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ganatra
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001824:Body Constitution; D005528:Foot / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity