Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
14:19
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Ultrasound-derived fetal size nomogram for a sub-Saharan African population: a longitudinal study
S H Landis1, C V Ananth, V Lokomba
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 29755-7435, USA.
Summary
New fetal size charts for sub-Saharan Africa show lower estimated fetal weight (EFW) than those from developed countries. These customized nomograms are crucial for accurately diagnosing fetal growth restriction in the region.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Standard fetal size nomograms are primarily based on data from developed countries.
- These existing nomograms may not accurately reflect fetal growth patterns in diverse populations, particularly in low-resource settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a fetal size nomogram specifically for sub-Saharan African populations.
- To compare the derived centiles with reference intervals from developed countries.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal ultrasound study was conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Fetal biometric measurements were collected from 144 singleton pregnancies.
- Estimated fetal weight (EFW) was calculated using the Hadlock algorithm and analyzed with a mixed-effects linear regression model.
Main Results:
- Nomograms from developed countries overestimated the 50th centile EFW for Congolese fetuses by 5-12%.
- Observed differences in the 10th and 90th centiles were inconsistent but generally showed overestimation decreasing with gestational age.
Conclusions:
- Factors such as malaria and maternal nutrition in low-resource settings likely contribute to lower fetal weight.
- Utilizing nomograms derived from developed populations is inappropriate for sub-Saharan African populations.
- A customized nomogram is necessary for accurate diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction in this region.
