Volume : 3, Issue : 5, May - 2014

A Simple Method For Assessment Of Gestational Age in Neonates Using Head Circumference

Dhaval Gandhi, Rupesh Masand, Alok Purohit

Abstract :

Objective:To construct standard reference intrauterine growth charts of head circumference (HC)for neonates of 28–42 weeks gestational age (GA) and derive regression equation for calculating GA from HC. Design:Cross–sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods:Study group included 1000 consecutively live–born singleton neonates of 28–42 weeks gestation. Data were recorded for HC according to GA. Using MS –Excel spread sheet, the mean, standard deviation, 3rd, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th and 97th percentiles were calculated and percentile curves drawn. Correlation of HC with GA was performed by applying correlation & regression analysis. Regression equation was derived to predict GA from HC.Results:HC correlated well with GA with r = 0.97. Regression equation obtained was: Y = 1.45X – 9.79 to predict GA (Y) from HC (X). Conclusion: HC can be used as simple tool to identify high risk newborns by primary health workers in rural areas of developing countries.