CHEST AND MIDARM CIRCUMFERENCES - IDENTIFICATION OF LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT NEWBORNS IN TURKEY

The present study was performed to find out which anthropometric measu rement(s) could efficiently be substituted for weight to detect neonat es with low birth weight at birth. A total of 874 neonates, between 32 and 43 weeks of gestational age were measured within 24 h of birth to interpret the validity of anthropometric measurements. Low birth weig ht was observed in 10 per cent of the neonates. The study showed a sig nificant correlation (P<0.001) between chest circumference, mid-arm ci rcumference, head circumference, length, and birth weight. However, th e correlation was maximum for chest circumference (r=0.855) and mid-ar m circumference (r=0.798). A chest circumference of <30 cm and a mid-a rm circumference of <9 cm had the best sensitivity and specificity for identifying neonates with a birth weight of <2500 g. Chest circumfere nce and/or mid-arm circumference can be used as simple and reliable in dicators for predicting low birth weight whenever weighing of newborns is not feasible.