NORMAL NEONATAL BIOMETRY IN THE NORTHWEST REGION OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Low birthweight does not always imply intrauterine growth retardation and other methods, including the ponderal index (PI), have been employ ed in its identification. Previous research has demonstrated that a lo w PI is associated with adverse neonatal outcome. The purpose of this study was to establish normal neonatal biometry for an Arab population and to determine the relationship between PI and both gestation and b irthweight. This is a prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the postnatal wards of the North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, S audi Arabia. Three hundred and eighty babies who were delivered betwee n 37 and 42 weeks' gestation following uncomplicated pregnancy were re cruited. All patients were managed according to established local prac tice. The mean birthweight of the study population is lower than that found by comparable studies. There was a strong positive correlation b etween the PI and birthweight and gestation and the lines describing t he regression were significant (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0002 respectively). This study shows that the PI depends on gestation and birthweight and these other factors must be taken into account when determining neonat al risk.