Evaluation of Mid-Arm Circumference in Estimating Low BirthWeight
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) - Year 2017, Vol 16, Issue 11
Abstract
Background: Low birth weight is a sensitive index of a nation’s health and development. In developing countries, such babies are at risk of increased morbidity and mortality due to diverse causes. It is therefore essential to identify low birth-weight babies early so that appropriate measures can be taken to minimize the risk to them. At times appropriate weight measuring tools may not be readily available to weigh newborn babies. In the absence or unavailability of appropriate weighing scales, simple surrogate measuring tools like mid-arm circumference may have considerable importance for easy and rapid identification of low birth weight babies. Objectives : To determine the mid-arm circumference of newborn babies and to find an optimal cut off of midarm circumference for determining the low birth in newborn babies. Methods: Study population consisted of 324 newborn babies admitted to the Pediatric Ward of RIMS Hospital. Birth weight and mid-arm circumference of the enrolled babies were measured within 48 hours of life using standard methods. Data were analyzed using Independent samples t-test and Chi-square test in SPSS version 21. Receiver Operating Curve (ROC) analysis was performed to find out the cut-off value of mid-arm circumference for neonates with birth weight < 2500 gm. Results: Of the 324 studied neonates 165 (50.9%) were males and 159(49.1%) were females (M:F = 1.03:1). Mean birth weight was 2.681±0.569 kg (range 1.6 – 4.2 kg); number of low birth neonates was 116(30.6%) with 60(18.5%) male and 56(17.3%)female babies. The mean mid-arm circumference of the study population was 9.6±1.0 cm (range 7 - 12.4 cm). There was significant association of mid-arm circumference in relation to birth weight with a Pearson product moment coefficient of 0.982 [p=<0.001(2-tailed)]. The optimal cut-off of midarm circumference for identifying neonates with a birth weight of <2500 gm with ROC curve analysis was 9.45 cm(sensitivity -97.4%;specificity- 96.6%;PPV-94.2%NPV-98.5%;p= <0.001). A linear regression analysis to predict low birth weight babies from mid-arm circumference resulted in the linear equation model – birth weight = -2.489 + (0.536 x newborn mid-arm circumference value). Conclusion: Mid-arm circumference is a simple, quick and reliable indicator for predicting low-birth weight babies which can be used by healthcare personnel when recording birth weight is not feasible.
Authors and Affiliations
Dr. Anto Ferdine Vaik P, Dr. Ch. Shyamsunder Singh, Dr. B. Sarita Devi, Dr. T. Kambiakdik, Dr. Namganglung Golmei, Dr. Ch. Mangi Singh
Keywords
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- EP ID EP238296
- DOI 10.9790/0853-1611045559
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