Birth weight and anthropometry of newborns.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between birth weight and the anthropometric measurements of newborn to screen for low birth weight.


METHODS
1,252 newborns have been enrolled in the study. The birth weight, mid-arm, head and chest circumferences were measured by standard techniques.


RESULTS
The highest correlation of birth weight was found with chest circumference (r = 0.70). The maximum sensitivity of detecting low birth weight was seen with chest circumference (94.26%).


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of chest circumference being simple, easy, cheap and reliable method for identification of low birth weight in the community.
Naik
Dhananjay B
DB
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
Kulkarni
A P
AP
Aswar
N R
NR
D001724:Birth Weight; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests