title: Designing colour-coded measuring tapes based on mid-arm and chest circumference to predict low birth weight in the field.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In developing countries, 80% of the births take place in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Birthweight, mid-arm and chest circumferences were measured in 294 newborns admitted in a tertiary-level hospital in Kolkata between April and August 2010. Colour-coded measuring tapes were devised using receiver operating characteristic curves to calculate the most sensitive and specific cut-off values to identify birthweight <2.5 and 1.8 kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is no significant difference in accuracy of Mid-arm circumference (MAC) and Chest circumference (CC) for prediction of low birth weight and birthweight <1.8 kg. The tape has three zones, green [weight (wt) > 2.5 kg, MAC > 8.4 cm, CC > 30 cm], yellow (wt 2.5-1.8 kg, MAC 8.4-6.7 cm, CC 30-25.5 cm) indicating some risk, and red (wt < 1.8 kg, MAC < 6.7 cm, CC < 25.5 cm) indicating babies needing referral and admission in Level II neonatal care unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Medicine, Medical College Kolkata, India. dr.moumitaghosh@gmail.com
authors.forename: Moumita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Shubhadeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Swapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001724:Birth Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003116:Color; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers