How accurate is maternal height measurement in Africa?

Maternal height is one of the risk parameters for dystocia that is often used in antenatal clinics which are organized by health centers and dispensaries in developing countries. In this paper, the results of an analysis on the reliability of height measurements in four African countries: Benin, the Congo, Senegal and Zaire are presented. Different causes appear to reduce this reliability: attraction to round numbers, assignment of some standard size, and in one situation an overrecording (probably intentional) of an at-risk woman. Different solutions are being suggested, and the importance of assessing the quality of risk factor measurement in improving the efficacy of the risk approach strategy is stressed.