ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS;

Abstract

Background: Determination of anthropometric measurements, especially of birth weight of newborn in first few days after birthis important for the assessment of neonatal nutritional status, gestational maturity, and prediction of early neonatal death. Objectives: (1) Todetermine the mean birth weight, mean birth length and mean head-circumference. (2) To seek association between income of the family andmean birth weight. Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study. Setting & Period: This study was done in the pediatric department of LiaquatNational Hospital from March 2003 to September 2003. Materials and methods: One hundred full terms, normal, singleton newborn babieswere included and birth weight, length and head circumference were taken within 72 hours of birth. Results: Overall mean birth weight was2.890 kg, mean birth length 48.245cm and mean head circumference was 34.232 cm.The % of LBW babies was 13. The mean birth weight ofbabies belonging to group A (born to families with income >5000 Rs/mth) was 3.044 Kg and that of group B (born to families with income <5000Rs/mth) was 2.736 Kg. Group A had 8 % LBW babies whereas group B had 18 %. Mean birth weight, length and head circumference of boys was2.961Kg, 48.776 cm and 34.316 cm respectively. Mean birth weight, length and head circumference of girls was 2.788 Kg, 47.480 cm and34.109 cm respectively. Conclusions: Community based studies should be conducted from time to time in order to develop our own populationdata.