Updated Size at Birth Charts for South Indian Neonates

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neonatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Accurate size-at-birth charts are crucial for assessing newborn health and development.
• Existing reference charts may not accurately represent diverse populations like South Indians.
• A need exists for updated, population-specific growth references.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish comprehensive, population-based size-at-birth reference charts for South Indian newborns.
• To generate gender-specific percentile curves for birth weight, length, and head circumference.
• To provide updated growth references for clinical use and research in South India.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective descriptive observational study utilizing data from 105,226 newborns (1999-2021).
• Application of the Generalized Additive Model for Location Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) to create smoothened percentile curves.
• Exclusion of neonates with maternal morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, anemia) to refine reference standards.

Main Results:

• Development of gender-specific, smoothened size-at-birth growth reference curves.
• Percentile curves generated for birth weight, length, and head circumference for each completed gestational week.
• The study represents the largest updated dataset for size-at-birth curves in this population.

Conclusions:

• The generated charts serve as a valuable and updated reference for South Indian infants.
• These charts can aid in the early identification of growth abnormalities in newborns.
• The findings contribute to improved perinatal care and growth monitoring in the region.