The arm circumference at birth and its relations to other anthropomeric parameters

The weight, head, chest and arm circumference of four hundred and sixty-one infants in Jamaica were measured during the first twenty-four hours of birth. The purpose of this work was to draw attention to the arm circumference as a possible indicator of the stage of maturity at birth and correlate this parameter against the other three and against factors on the mother. The highest positive correlation was found between the weight and the chest circumference, followed by the weight and arm cirucmference. Attempt to produce an equation to estimate birth weight from arm and chest circumference was unsatisfactory.