Anthropometric determinants of low birth weight in newborns of Hoshiarpur district (Punjab) - A hospital based study

Objective: The main aim of the study was to determine best surrogate anthropometric measurement to determine low birth weight newborns among institutional deliveries in district Hoshiarpur, Panjab (India). Subjects: Subjects comprises of 504 newborns of singleton pregnant women delivering in reputed hospitals of Hoshiarpur, Panjab (India). Methods: Singleton pregnant women were booked in last trimester of pregnancy and followed them till delivery. Selective newborn measurements were taken within 48 hours of birth using standard scales. Results: In the present study, out of 504 newborn babies studied, 20.23% were having birth weight <2500gm. Birth weight was significantly correlated with all selected anthropometric measurements i.e. Crown Heel Length (CHL), Head circumference (HC), Chest circumference (CC), Mid-arm circumference (MAC), Abdominal circumference (AC), Thigh circumference (TC), Subscapular, Biceps, triceps, thigh and calf skinfold thicknesses at p<0.01. Univariate linear regression analysis was done to identify the optimal cut off points of these anthropometric measures to identify low birth weight babies. Conclusion: Mid-arm circumference was found to be best surrogate measurement followed by chest circumference to identify low birth weight newborns.