title: WHO multicentre study for the development of growth standards from fetal life to childhood: the fetal component.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2006 WHO presented the infant and child growth charts suggested for universal application. However, major determinants for perinatal outcomes and postnatal growth are laid down during antenatal development. Accordingly, monitoring fetal growth in utero by ultrasonography is important both for clinical and scientific reasons. The currently used fetal growth references are derived mainly from North American and European population and may be inappropriate for international use, given possible variances in the growth rates of fetuses from different ethnic population groups. WHO has, therefore, made it a high priority to establish charts of optimal fetal growth that can be recommended worldwide.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multi-national study for the development of fetal growth standards for international application by assessing fetal growth in populations of different ethnic and geographic backgrounds. The study will select pregnant women of high-middle socioeconomic status with no obvious environmental constraints on growth (adequate nutritional status, non-smoking), and normal pregnancy history with no complications likely to affect fetal growth. The study will be conducted in centres from ten developing and industrialized countries: Argentina, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Norway, and Thailand. At each centre, 140 pregnant women will be recruited between 8 + 0 and 12 + 6 weeks of gestation. Subsequently, visits for fetal biometry will be scheduled at 14, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 weeks (+/- 1 week) to be performed by trained ultrasonographers.The main outcome of the proposed study will be the development of fetal growth standards (either global or population specific) for international applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from this study will be incorporated into obstetric practice and national health policies at country level in coordination with the activities presently conducted by WHO to implement the use of the Child Growth Standards.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merialdi
authors.affiliation: UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/WORLD BANK Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction; Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. widmerm@who.int.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: Ahmet Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gülmezoglu
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aleem
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bega
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benachi
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carroli
authors.forename: Jose Guilherme
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cecatti
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diemert
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hecher
authors.forename: Lisa N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Synnøve L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Torvid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiserud
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kriplani
authors.forename: Pisake
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lumbiganon
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tabor
authors.forename: Sameera A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Talegawkar
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tshefu
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wojdyla
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Platt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001118:Argentina; D001699:Biometry; D001938:Brazil; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003718:Denmark; D004534:Egypt; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D005865:Gestational Age; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012107:Research Design; D012923:Social Class; D013785:Thailand; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult