Improving the assessment of gestational age in a Zimbabwean population.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance and the utility of using birthweight-adjusted scores of Dubowitz and Ballard methods of estimating gestational age in a Zimbabwean population.


METHODS
The Dubowitz and the Ballard methods of estimating gestational age were administered to 364 African newborn infants with a known last menstrual period (LMP) at Harare Maternity Hospital.


RESULTS
Both methods were good predictors of gestational age useful in differentiating term from pre-term infants. Our regression line was Y((LMP gestational age))=23.814+0.301*score for the Dubowitz and Y((LMP gestational age))=24.493+0.420*score for the Ballard method. Addition of birthweight to the regression models improved prediction of gestational age; Y((LMP gestational age))=23.512+0.219*score+0.0015*grams for Dubowitz and Y((LMP gestational age))=24.002+0.292*score+0.0016*grams for Ballard method.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the use of our birthweight-adjusted maturity scales; the Dubowitz for studies of prematurity, and the Ballard for routine clinical practice.
Feresu
S A
SA
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. sferesu@umich.edu
Gillespie
B W
BW
Sowers
M F
MF
Johnson
T R B
TR
Welch
K
K
Harlow
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D016014:Linear Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D015030:Zimbabwe