Customised gravidogram and fetal growth chart in a South African population

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether gravidograms and fetal growth curves should be customized, i.e. tailor made for a specific ethnic group. Methods: a cross-sectional study of 800 pregnant Xhosa women attending antenatal care in the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). The data measured was used to compare the correlation between the symphysis–fundus height measurement (SFHM) and the sonographic estimate of gestational age (SEGA), as well as the intra-uterine fetal growth curve with existing gravidograms and fetal growth charts. Results: There was a good correlation between the SFHM and the SEGA: r=0.91 ( P<0.0001). The correlation between the SFHM and the sonographic estimate of fetal weight (SEFW) yielded a correlation coefficient ( r) of 0.40 ( P<0.0001). The correlation between the SEFW and SEGA resulted in a r=0.97 ( P<0.0001). The customized gravidogram and fetal growth chart followed the general trend seen in their Caucasian equivalents. Conclusion: The comparison of our customized gravidogram and intra-uterine fetal growth curve with similar charts established in Caucasians does not show any significant difference.