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  1. Home
  3. Diagnostic Accuracy Of Newborn Foot Length Measurement In Identifying Low Birth Weight And Preterm Infants In Sidama Region, Ethiopia.
  1. Home
  3. Diagnostic Accuracy Of Newborn Foot Length Measurement In Identifying Low Birth Weight And Preterm Infants In Sidama Region, Ethiopia.

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Diagnostic accuracy of newborn foot length measurement in identifying low birth weight and preterm infants in Sidama

Fitsum Weldegebriel Belay1, Fanuel Belayneh Bekele2, Akalewold Alemayehu3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Hawassa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa, Ethiopia fitsedememmj@gmail.com.

BMJ Paediatrics Open
|December 25, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Foot length (FL) accurately identifies low birth weight (LBW) and preterm newborns in sub-Saharan Africa. Optimal cut-off points of 70.65mm for LBW and 69.95mm for preterm infants ensure effective screening.

Keywords:
Developing CountriesHealth PolicyNeonatology

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Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Pediatric Anthropometry
  • Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth are major contributors to neonatal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Early identification and intervention for vulnerable newborns are critical but challenging.
  • Foot length (FL) offers a potential simple anthropometric tool for identifying small newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the accuracy of foot length (FL) as a screening tool for identifying LBW and preterm infants.
  • To establish context-specific optimal cut-off points for FL measurements.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 396 mother-newborn dyads was conducted.
  • Data collection included interviews, medical record reviews, and FL measurements using digital calipers.
  • Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine optimal FL cut-off points.

Main Results:

  • Foot length (FL) demonstrated a strong correlation with birth weight (r=0.79) and moderate correlation with gestational age (r=0.62).
  • Optimal FL cut-off points were identified as 70.65mm for LBW (sensitivity 93.4%, specificity 91.6%) and 69.95mm for preterm infants (sensitivity 76.7%, specificity 91.1%).
  • Area under the curve (AUC) values were 0.97 for LBW and 0.91 for preterm infants, indicating excellent diagnostic accuracy.

Conclusions:

  • Foot length (FL) is a highly accurate anthropometric measurement for identifying LBW and preterm newborns.
  • Recommended FL cut-off points of 70.65mm for LBW and 69.95mm for preterm infants can be utilized for screening in similar populations.
  • FL-based screening tools should incorporate appropriate cut-off points to achieve desired accuracy levels.