Determination of maturity at birth: further observations on a maturity scoring system for head circumference and mid-arm circumference.
Over a 3-month period, 114 infants were analysed to establish the reliability and usefulness of the maturity scoring for mid-arm circumference (MAC) and head circumference using the Dubowitz system as standard. Total maturity scores of the two methods showed highly significant correlation with gestational age. There was also a highly significant correlation between total maturity scores of both methods. The usefulness of the model was suggested by its comparable accuracy to the Dubowitz system. The model, however, was a significantly more rapid method of assessment. The clinical usefulness of the model was reinforced by its ability to distinguish between appropriately grown preterm low-birth weight (LBW) and growth retarded term LBW infants. The model is a rapid, reliable and useful method of determination of maturity at birth.
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Department of Paediatrics, Specialist Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007233:Infant, Postmature; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results