Low and high birth weight in a hospital population in Sudan: An analysis of clinical cut-off values.

Abstract

To determine the cut-off values for low birth weight (LBW) and high birth weight (HBW) of Sudanese newborns. Data (maternal age, parity, birth weight, and gender of the newborn) from women (n=2818) who delivered at Saad Abualila Hospital in Khartoum were retrieved from the medical files. The cut-off for LBW (the 10th centile) was 2400g and the 90th centile (HBW) was 3700g. Out of 2818 newborns, 317 (11.2%) had birth weights below 2400g. Using the WHO (traditional) cut-off of 2500g, the prevalence of LBW was 14.3%. The difference between the two prevalences of LBW was statistically significant (P<0.001). However, the agreement rate between the two was high (κ=0.86). The cut-off to define HBW was 3700g. In the study, 292 (10.4%) newborns had birth weights of at least 3700g. Using the cut-off of 4000g, the prevalence of HBW was 9.5%. The difference between the two prevalences of HBW was statistically significant (P<0.001). However, the agreement rate between the two was low (κ=0.06). The cut-off values for low and high birth weight were 2400 and 3700g, respectively.