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An anthropometric study of the newborn in a New Delhi urban community

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Summary and Conclusions

A field study was undertaken on 976 live births with a view to study certain anthropometric indicators of the newborn and to establish research methodologies for future field studies.

The mean birth weight for the series was 2958.8 G., (S.D.=481.34) and the prematurity rate was 17.6%.

The mean figure for birth length was 47.84 cm. (S.D.=3.93); for head circumference 33.74 cm. (S.D.=2.21); and for chest circumference 32.58 cm. (S.D.=2.65). All these anthropometric indices showed high positive correlation with each other and with the weight of the newborn (Table 7).

The mean placental weight for the series was 406.3 G. (S.D.=83.09). It showed a high positive correlation with the birth weight.

The average duration of gestation was 276.3 days (S.D.=15.81), and the study revealed a significant correlation of the weight of the newborn with this variable.

The authors recommend themackintosh scale for measurement of the length of the newborn in field surveys.

With adequate training of the field staff, it is recommended that such studies be undertaken in the form of a built-in research, in existing well organised service programmes, especially for developing countries where there is great need for such research and where resources are limited for carrying out elaborate field studies.

The authors are extremely in-debted to Dr. (Mrs.) B.K. Puri, Superintendent in charge of the Maternity and Child Welfare Service, New Delhi, and all her staff whose whole-hearted help and co-operation made this community study possible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Varanasi

    Saroj Pachauri & S. M. Marwah

Authors
  1. Saroj Pachauri
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  2. S. M. Marwah
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From the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Baranres Hindu University, Varanasi-5

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Pachauri, S., Marwah, S.M. An anthropometric study of the newborn in a New Delhi urban community. Indian J Pediatr 38, 291–297 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02802562

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