Role of intrauterine growth retardation on physical growth of Pakistani squatter children from birth to 2 years of age

Anthropometric measurements of singleton live full-term newborns in Aden, Yemen

BACKGROUND

Neonatal anthropometry is the single most portable, universally applicable cheap, and non-invasive technique that deals with a variety of human body measurements. The anthropometric data for newborns, infants and children reflect their general health, nutritional status, and future survival by tracking trends in growth and development over time.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted on 1000 Yemeni singleton live full-term newborns (37-42 weeks gestation), 488 males and 512 females during first 24 h of delivery at Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital, Aden, Yemen during the years 2002-2003.

RESULTS

The data analysis of seven anthropometric values for 1000 Yemeni term newborns of both sexes revealed the mean birth weight and SD was 3113.04 g (±519.52), crown-heel length, head, chest, mid-arm, abdominal and calf circumferences were 48.91 (1.62), 33.78 (1.13), 32.09 (1.48), 10.09 (1.02), 30.10 (1.92), and 10.94 (1.04) respectively. The Ponderal Index was calculated with mean value of 2.65 (0.40). This study showed significant sex differences in all the anthropometric measurements principally in the birth weight (3187.66 versus 3039.04) and crown-heel length CHL (49.28 versus 48.53). (P < .001). The best cut-off point to determine LBW was calf circumference (8.5 cm), which showed the most significant correlation with birth weight (r = 0.5) followed by chest (r = 0.44) and mid-arm circumference (r = 0.41).

CONCLUSIONS

This study of normal reference values will provide basic step for future standardization of Yemen anthropometric parameters to be used for accurate assessment, development and maturity of newborn births that would lead to identify newborns at risk and help in better management.

Systematic review of birth cohort studies in South East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions

BACKGROUND

Few longitudinal studies of children have taken place in the developing world, despite child mortality being concentrated there. This review summarises the methodologies and main outcomes of longitudinal studies of pre-school children (0 to 59 months) in the World Health Organization's South East Asia (SEA) and Eastern Mediterranean (EM) Regions.

METHODS

A systematic search of literature using pre-defined criteria revealed 7863 papers. After application of quality criteria, 120 studies were selected for analysis.

RESULTS

The search revealed 83 studies in the SEA region and 37 in the EM region, of which 92 were community-based and 8 facility-based. Objectives were diverse but topics included growth (n = 49 studies), mortality (n = 28), nutrition (n = 24), and infectious diseases (n = 33). Only 12 studies focused on non-communicable diseases. Duration ranged from 7 to 384 months. Measurements included anthropometric (n = 56 studies), socioeconomic (n = 50) and biological sampling (n = 25), but only one study was DNA-based.

CONCLUSION

Biobanks have emerged as the most successful approach to generating knowledge about disease causes and mechanisms. Little of this is possible to undertake in the in SEA or EM regions, however. Further longitudinal studies of young children with DNA sampling should be set up to better understand determinants of diseases in low-income countries.