Anthropometric parameters of Zambian infants at birth

Mean, standard deviations, and percentile values for weight, length, head, chest, and mid-arm circumferences were calculated by measuring 2353 'normal' singleton babies born at University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia. The mean values were as follows: birth weight 3.08 +/- 0.40 kg; crown-heel length 48.57 +/- 2.53 cm; head circumference 34.55 +/- 1.57 cm; chest circumference 32.14 +/- 1.92 cm; and mid-arm circumference 10.68 +/- 0.96 cm. Physical measurements increased with increase in gestational age up to 42 weeks and male babies were larger than their female counterparts.