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Updated: Oct 3, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Head circumference measurement of urban children aged between 6 and 12 in Malatya, Turkey
H Karabiber1, Y Durmaz, C Yakinci
1Department of Pediatrics, KSU Medical School, 46050 Kahramanmaras, Turkey. hkarabiber@hotmail.com
Insights
This study establishes head circumference (HC) reference values for healthy Turkish children aged 6-12 years. The new data provides crucial standards for developmental evaluation and early diagnosis of neurological disorders in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Development
- Neurology
Background:
- Head circumference (HC) is vital for assessing child development and diagnosing neurological disorders.
- Existing Turkish growth charts lack HC reference values for children over six years old.
- Population-specific HC standards are necessary due to variations across races and generations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative head circumference (HC) data for healthy Turkish children aged 6 to 12 years.
- To create updated reference charts for developmental evaluation in Turkish pediatrics.
- To provide a basis for early detection of neurological conditions in children.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1826 healthy children (945 males, 881 females) aged 6-12 years.
- Measurements were conducted in ten schools in Malatya, Turkey, representing diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Head circumference was measured twice by a pediatrician, with the mean value recorded.
Main Results:
- Normative head circumference (HC) charts and graphs were generated separately for boys and girls.
- The HC values for Turkish children were found to be comparable to those of Irish children.
- The study suggests these findings could potentially replace the current Nelhaus criteria for clinical use.
Conclusions:
- The established HC data provides essential reference values for Turkish children aged 6-12 years.
- These standards can aid in the accurate developmental assessment and early diagnosis of pediatric neurological disorders.
- Further extensive research across different Turkish regions is recommended for broader applicability.
Abstract:
Head circumference (HC) is one of the most significant findings in physical examination, especially in the evaluation of the development and early diagnosis of neurological disorders in children. In the standard charts for developmental evaluation of Turkish children, there is no HC reference values for children over 6 years of age. Since the HC standards show differences among races and generations, many researchers have obtained normal values for their own populations, and recommend periodic reevaluation of these standards. In this study, the HC of 1826 healthy children (945 male, 881 female) aged between 6 and 12 years was measured in order to establish the Turkish standards. The sample represented various socioeconomic levels in the city of Malatya, Turkey. The study was conducted in ten schools and measurements were done twice by a pediatrician and the mean was recorded. Charts and graphs for boys and girls were prepared separately. Results were compared to the values of other populations. HC values of Turkish children were similar to that of Irish children. The data obtained in this study may replace the Nelhaus criteria to be used in clinics. However, a more widespread study should be carried out by including children from different regions of Turkey.
