Prediction of term birth weight in Hispanic women using an equation based on maternal characteristics.
OBJECTIVE
To test the accuracy of a birth weight prediction equation based on maternal characteristics in Hispanic women.


METHODS
A previously published birth weight prediction equation based on maternal and pregnancy-specific characteristics was used to predict birth weights for 283 normal Caucasian women of Hispanic ethnicity. The accuracy of these birth weight estimates was compared to a similarly selected group of 233 non-Hispanic Caucasian gravidas who were located 2500 miles away.


RESULTS
Birth weight predictions for Hispanic women were accurate to within +/- 8.4% (+/- 287 g). The percentages of birth weights predicted to within +/- 15 and +/- 10% of actual values were 84 and 68%, respectively. These results were no different than those that were obtained for non-Hispanic Caucasian gravidas.


CONCLUSIONS
A previously derived birth weight prediction equation based on maternal and pregnancy-specific characteristics alone successfully predicts term birth weight in normal Hispanic gravidas to within +/- 8.4% (+/- 287 g).
Nahum
Gerard G
GG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, 3241, Durham, NC 27710, USA. nahum001@mc.duke.edu
Pham
Krystle Q
KQ
Stanislaw
Harold
H
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010298:Parity; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States; D044465:White People