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Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Birth weight and anthropometry of newborns
Dhananjay B Naik1, A P Kulkarni, N R Aswar
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India.
Insights
Chest circumference is a reliable indicator for identifying low birth weight newborns. This simple measurement offers high sensitivity in screening for low birth weight infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal health
- Pediatric anthropometry
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant global health concern.
- Accurate and accessible screening methods for LBW are crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the correlation between birth weight and various anthropometric measurements in newborns.
- To identify the most effective anthropometric measurement for screening low birth weight infants.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 1,252 newborns.
- Measurement of birth weight, mid-arm circumference, head circumference, and chest circumference using standard techniques.
Main Results:
- Chest circumference demonstrated the highest correlation with birth weight (r = 0.70).
- Chest circumference achieved the maximum sensitivity (94.26%) in detecting low birth weight.
Conclusions:
- Chest circumference measurement is a simple, easy, and cost-effective method.
- This technique is a reliable tool for identifying low birth weight in community settings.
Objective:
To determine the relationship between birth weight and the anthropometric measurements of newborn to screen for low birth weight.
Methods:
1,252 newborns have been enrolled in the study. The birth weight, mid-arm, head and chest circumferences were measured by standard techniques.
Result:
The highest correlation of birth weight was found with chest circumference (r = 0.70). The maximum sensitivity of detecting low birth weight was seen with chest circumference (94.26%).
Conclusion:
Measurement of chest circumference being simple, easy, cheap and reliable method for identification of low birth weight in the community.
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