XVII Annual Conference of IAP Maharashtra State (Mahapedicon 2006, Solapur, 3-5th November 2006)

Amar Taksande, Krishna Vilhekar, P Chaturvedi, Sapna Gupta,

---

Abstracts: Objective: The present study was undertaken to find out the best simple anthropometric parameter for identifying low birth weight babies.

Study Design: Hospital based cross - sectional study.

Participants: Newborn babies born in KHS Hospital, Sevagram.

Results: In the present study, out of 868 newborn babies studied, 52.2% were male. 12.6% of them were birth weight <2000 gms and 44.6% were birth weight <2500 gms, Birth weight was significantly correlated (p less than 0.001) with thigh circumference (TC).mid-arm circumference (MAC), calf circumference (CC), and head circumference (HC). All anthropometric indicators had a statistically significant sensitivity, specificity and predictive value (p less than 0.001) for identifying less than or equal to 2500 g birth weight babies, ROC analysis was done to identify the optimal cut- off points of these anthropometric measures separately for low birth weight babies and <2000 gms birth weight babies.

Conclusion: Head circumference and thigh circumference appears to be better indicator for picking up low birth weight babies and mid arm circumference and calf circumference appears to be better in picking up very low birth weight babies.