Source
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
Abstract
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.
RESULT:
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%).
CONCLUSION:
Measurement of chest circumference being simple, easy, cheap and reliable method for identification of low birth weight in the community.