Anthropometric Measurements of Singleton Live Full-Term Newborns in Comparison to Who Standard at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialised Hospital, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Anthropometry is a universally applicable, non-expensive, rapid and noninvasive technique used to evaluate and reflect the nutritional status of an individual. Anthropometric measurements of newborns reflect their general health, nutritional status and future survival by tracking trends in growth and development over time. It has also considerable significance in terms of determining the risk of death and extra uterine complications. Most previously conducted studies assessing newborn anthropometry had used birth weight as the sole parameter. But it is apparent that other anthropometric measurements, such as length and head circumference, are also important in predicting short-term and long-term outcomes. So this study assesses anthropometric measurements of singleton live full-term newborns at University of Gondar comprehensive specialised hospital, Ethiopia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 333 newborn from 5 June to 11 July 2022, in the maternity and neonatal ward of University of Gondar comprehensive specialised hospital. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. The Kobo toolbox software platform was used for data collection, and STATA software version 16 was used for analysis.

RESULTS

The mean birth weight, length and head circumference of the newborns in the current study were 2977 grams (95% CI: 2935.7, 3018.3), 47.05 centimeters (95% CI: 46.72-47.37) and 34.7 centimeters (95% CI: 34.6, 34.88), respectively. The prevalence of SGA (< 10th percentile) and LGA (> 90th percentile) was 20.12% and 6.01%, respectively. Independent samples t-test was done to see the association of newborn sex with anthropometric indices, and the result showed that the difference was statistically insignificant in all of anthropometric parameters.

CONCLUSION

This study of normal reference values will provide basic step for future standardisation of Ethiopian term newborns anthropometric parameters to be used for accurate assessment of newborns.

Comparison of cord blood vitamin D levels in newborns of vitamin D supplemented and unsupplemented pregnant women: a prospective, comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To screen pregnant women for deficiency of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and supplement selected vitamin D deficient pregnant women with vitamin D and to compare 25(OH)D levels in cord blood between them.

METHOD

Sixty pregnant women were selected as cases (vitamin D levels <30 ng/ml) and 60 unscreened pregnant women were taken as controls. Cases were supplemented with available 60,000 IU vitamin D every two weeks for eight doses or till delivery, whichever was earlier. In both the cases and controls, cord blood was collected at the time of delivery and tested for 25(OH)D levels using Biomerieux miniVIDAS.

RESULT

Maximum (66.7%) pregnant women who received vitamin D supplementation had cord blood vitamin D level >30 ng/ml, while only 3.3% unsupplemented pregnant women had cord blood vitamin D level >30 ng/ml. The median cord blood vitamin D level was 36.5 ng/ml in vitamin D supplemented and 11.35 ng/ml in unsupplemented women. The mean birth weight and mean crown heel length were 3.1 ± 0.485 kg versus 2.8 ± 0.705 kg and 49.35 ± 1.36 cm versus 48.67 ± 2.12 cm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin D supplemented women had sufficient levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood at birth in maximum cases and neonates had higher birth weights and increased crown heel length.