Anthropometric measurements of a group of newborns in a teaching hospital in Baghdad

OBJECTIVE: To show the normal standards of trunk and limbs anthropometric measurements in a group of normal full term newborns in Al-Kadhimiya Hospital, Baghdad, and to use the above mentioned standards (as a reference) in the evaluation of newborns, mainly those with dysmorphic features.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Obstetric Department, Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, involving 300 full term newborns (within the first 24 hours of birth) delivered in the delivery room, from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004. Ten anthropometric measurements were studied.

RESULTS: The mean weight (±SD) was 3.5 ± 0.46 Kg, with a median of 3.6 Kg, ranging from 2-4.75 Kg. The mean length (±SD) was 48.45 ± 2.17 cm, with median of 49 cm, ranging from 33-54 cm. Results showed that the mean head circumference (±SD) was 35 ± 1.47 cm, ranging from 31.5-38.5 cm. Very trivial (if any) differences were found between males and females. The mean weight for age Z score (±SD) was 0.6063 ± 1.0737, with a median of 0.67. The mean height for age Z score (±SD) was -0.8144 ± 0.983, with a median of -0.7.

CONCLUSION: This preliminary survey showed that almost all measurements in our newborns were less than the previously published data in other populations. For the time being, these measurements can be used as a rough guide to detect some congenital anomalies.