A SIMPLE TOOL FOR ASSESSMENT OF GESTATIONAL AGE IN NEWBORNS USING FOOT LENGTH

BACKGROUND: Since decades attempts have been made to find a simple alternative method of gestational age assessment in newborns. It is important for the early identification and reference of preterm newborns from a rural setup where no proper medical facilities are available to a higher centre. AIMS: To construct standard reference intrauterine growth charts of foot length measurement for infants of 28-42 weeks gestational age and to study the correlation of foot length with gestational age. SETTING & DESIGN: It is an observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group included 1000 consecutively live born singleton infants of 28-42 weeks of gestation. Data were recorded for the foot length according to gestational age. Using MS Excel spread - sheet, the mean, standard deviation, 3rd, 5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th and 97th percentiles were calculated and percentile curves drawn. The correlation of foot length with gestational age was analyzed by applying correlation and regression analysis. Regression equation was derived to predict gestational age from foot length. Results: Foot length correlated very well with the gestational age with r = 0.93and regression equation obtained was: Y = 6.278 + 4.15X to predict gestational age( Y) from foot length(X). CONCLUSION: Foot length is a simple, quick and reliable anthropometric measurement to assess gestational age in neonates and can be used as a simple tool for identifying and referring high risk newborns by peripheral health workers in developing countries.