CROWN HEEL LENGTH MEASUREMENT USED FOR IDENTIFICATION OF LBW BABIES

Abstract

The present study was undertaken at the Neonatal Unit, Department of Pediatrics, S.N. Medical College, Agra; from September 2005 to August 2007 to find out foot length measurement as an effective screening tool in the identification of low birth weight babies. Foot-length measurement is a cheap, easy to use, less prone to errors with no requirement of a technical aid or expertise and there is no necessity for any form of equipment or facility. The incidence of LBW babies was 45.82% with 65.9% Term SGA and 34.1% pre-term babies. Mean values for crown heel length, occipito-frontal circumference, chest circumference, mid-arm circumference and foot length were  cm,  and  respectively.

Key Words: LBW babies, Crown heel length, Neonatal and pre-term babies.