Intercorrelations of the anthropometric measurements of the newborn infants in upper Egypt

ABSTRACT

A study of 151 hospital births in Minia district in Upper Egypt revealed significant intercorrelations of the anthropometric measurements of the newborn infants. The best correlation of birth weight is with raidarm circumference and with head circumference. Birth weight of < 2.5 kg is the criterion of low birth weight and mid-arm circumference of < 8.9 cm or head circumference of < 31.4 cm has good predictive value in identifying this risk group. This trial is performed in order to select a simple measure which could be substituted for weight when problems prevent weighing of every newborn infant. Skinfold thickness of the studied newborns can be used to measure subcutaneous fat but not maturity of the baby. Skinfold thickness has low correlations with body lengths and high correlations with birth weight and arm circumference. However, because of non-linear relation to body weight, it is not recommended to use skinfold thickness in regression equations to predict birth weight