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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics Advance Access originally published online on June 24, 2005
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 2006 52(1):24-29; doi:10.1093/tropej/fmi059
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© The Author [2005]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Maternal Anthropometry as Predictors of Low Birth Weight

C. Mohantya, Rajniti Prasadb, A. Srikanth Reddyb, Jayant K. Ghoshb, T. B. Singhc and B. K. Dasb

Departments of a Anatomy, b Pediatrics, and c Bio-Statistics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Correspondence: Dr Rajniti Prasad, Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India. E-mail <rajnitip{at}yahoo.co.in>.

The usefulness of maternal anthropometric parameters i.e. maternal weight (MWt), maternal height (MHt), maternal mid-arm circumference (MMAC) and maternal body mass index (MBMI) as predictors of low birth weight (LBW) was studied in 395 singleton pregnancies. The maternal anthropometric parameters were measured in the first trimester of pregnancy and were plotted against the birth weight of the newborns. Significant positive correlations were observed among MWt and birth weight (r=0.38), MHt and birth weight (r=0.25), MMAC and birth weight (r=0.30) and MBMI and birth weight (r=0.30). The most sensitive being MWt (t=7.796), followed by MMAC (t=5.759), MHt (t=4.706) and MBMI (t=5.89). For prediction of LBW, the critical limits of MWt, MHt, MMAC and MBMI were 45 kg, 152 cm, 22.5 cm, 20 kg/m2 respectively. From these observations, the use of colour-coded weighing machines, height rods and tapes may be devised for use by peripheral health workers and traditional birth attendants for detection of mothers at risk of delivering low birth weight babies (Table 5). Mothers who have anthropometric parameters in the ‘red zone’ are at risk of delivery LBW infants.


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  		TABLE 5 Colour-coded type system based on three colours

 

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S. V. Subramanian, L. K. Ackerson, G. Davey Smith, and N. A. John
Association of Maternal Height With Child Mortality, Anthropometric Failure, and Anemia in India
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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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