To Study the Anthropometric Measurements of the Neonates between 28 to 42 Weeks of Gestational Age at the Tertiary Health Care Center, Bhavnagar, Gujarat

Aims: To study the anthropometric measurements of the neonates between 28 to 42 weeks of gestational age. To express them as smoothed percentiles and obtain their correlation with the constant. Comparing the data trend with the Shah Study conducted twelve years ago in the same institute.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study of 500 (selected out of 1223 by convenience sampling) live new-borns, 28 to 42 weeks gestational age (confirmed by Ballard score) was conducted in NICU and post-natal ward, Sir-T hospital, Bhavnagar. Infantometer and non-stretchable measuring tape were used for measurements.

Results: Demographic data- female, male: [247 (49.4%), 253 (50.6%)]. The newborns weighing < 2.499 kg were n= 193(38.6%), 2.500- 3.00 kg n=247(49.4%) and > 3.00 kg n= 60(12%). 244 newborns were <37 weeks old (48.8%) and 256 were 37- 42 weeks old (51.2%), with 37 weeks old contributing n=167(33.4%). The male newborn had higher anthropometric variable than female: Weight, Crown Heel Length, Head Circumference, Chest Circumference, Ponderal Index, Thigh Circumference, Mid Arm Circumference, Foot Length were 2.500, 46.73, 31.65, 29.69, 2.38, 12.06, 8.4, 6.79 of female and 2.595, 47.43, 32.08, 29.95, 2.39, 12.19, 8.2, 7.13 of male respectively, except in MAC.

By comparing the mean of the parameters of 34 to 38 week newborns, the mean of TC and MAC of the present study was found to be increased than in Shah Study. Similarly, the mean of weight in 34, 36, 37 and 38, CHL in 36 and 38, the HC in 36, 37 and 38, the CC in 34, 35, 36 and 37, the FL in 35 and 37, and the Ponderal Index in 34, 35 and 38 week newborns, of present study was increased, as compared to Shah Study. By Pearson’s correlation, the maximum association was found with TC (r 0.934), followed by PI (0.868) and HC (0.844) in the present study and with TC (0.966) in Shah Study. The intrauterine growth curves were constructed by plotting percentile values of each anthropometric parameter against gestational age in weeks.

Conclusion: The nutrition has improved in the near term and full-term neonates. The percentile charts constructed in accordance with current data trends thus can be utilised regionally.