Detection of Low Birth Weight Babies by an Anthropometric Surrogate Measure: A Hospital Based Study

Abstract

Birth weight is an indicator of both neonatal morbidity and mortality, maternal health, nutrition and quality of antenatal services. OBJECTIVE: To find out important anthropometric parameter(s) in the newborn as related to birth weight so that newborns with low birth weight can be identified. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective cross sectional, analytical, hospital based study was conducted at Amritsar on 200 term low birth weight newborn babies(<2.5 kg) born during a period of 10 months and their various anthropometric measurements (HC, CC, MAC, TC, CFC) were taken according to standard techniques. RESULTS: The study showed a strong correlation (p <0.001) between mid-arm circumference (r=0.834) and birth weight, followed by head circumference (r=0.816) and birth weight. Other parameters were also strongly correlated (p < 0.001). A value of <9.2 cm and <7.6 cm for mid-arm circumference showed highest validity for picking up newborns weighing <2500 gm and <2000 gm respectively. CONCLUSION: Measurement of arm circumference is easier, convenient and statistically superior to other anthropometrical parameters in detection of low birth weight newborn babies. The researchers recommend designing of a simple 'Tri-colored tape' for early detection of 'At Risk' LBW newborns in rural communities for their timely management.

Identification of an anthropometric surrogate to low birth weight in newborns: a hospital based cross sectional study

“…A cut off value of 10.5 cm has shown high validity for picking up low birth weight babies. Similar findings were reported by Sajjadian et al, Jyothi et al and Verma et al 10,18,26…”

PERBANDINGAN LINGKAR BETIS DAN LINGKAR LENGAN ATAS SEBAGAI UKURAN PENGGANTI BERAT LAHIR <br><i> [Comparison between Calf and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference Alternative of Birthweight Measurement]</br></i>

“…Berat lahir yang tidak ditimbang maupun bayi yang tidak memiliki catatan penimbangan juga menjadi masalah pada beberapa negara berkembang lain (Hadush et al, 2017;Marchant et al, 2010;Nabiwemba et al, 2013;Otupiri et al, 2014;Sreeramareddy et al, 2008). Oleh karena itu berbagai penelitian dilakukan untuk menemukan ukuran pengganti berat lahir untuk dapat mendeteksi kasus BBLR diantaranya panjang telapak kaki (Marchant et al, 2010;Nabiwemba et al, 2013), lingkar dada (Chukwudi et al, 2018;Hadush et al, 2017;Mullany et al, 2007;Otupiri et al, 2014;Sreeramareddy et al, 2008), lingkar kepala (Hadush et al, 2017;Taksande et al, 2007), lingkar lengan atas (Goto, 2011;Neeluri & Pamarthi, 2018;Otupiri et al, 2014;Vaik P et al, 2017;Verma et al, 2014), dan lingkar betis (Otupiri et al, 2014;Sheikh et al, 2017;Suneetha & Kavitha, 2016;Sunil Kumar, Sudarshan, & Vatsala, 2013) Pendeteksian BBLR secara cepat dan penanganan yang tepat merupakan hal yang penting terutama dalam kelangsungan hidup bayi (Administrative Committee on Coordination/ Subcommittee on Nutrition, 2000; Pojda & Kelley, 2000), namun sulit dilakukan jika persalinan terjadi di rumah dan tidak ditolong oleh non tenaga kesehatan yang disebabkan karena ketidaktersediaan alat penimbangan atau tidak adanya tenaga pengukur yang terlatih (Kusharisupeni et al, 2013;Neeluri & Pamarthi, 2018;Suneetha & Kavitha, 2016). Oleh karenanya diperlukan alternatif metode pendeteksian BBLR yang cepat, akurat dan mudah dilakukan.…”