Prediction of Birth Weight at Term: Validation of a Clinical Method in a Low Resource Setting
Cajethan Ife Emechebe,
Charles Obinna Njoku,
Jenkins Tobechukwu Ukaga,
Edu Michael Eyong,
Chinedu Chukwu
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 4, July 2016
Pages:
19-24
Received:
23 July 2016
Accepted:
5 August 2016
Published:
29 August 2016
Abstract: Clinical and ultrasound measurement of fetal weight provides a non-invasive and precise way of obtaining information of fetal size. Both low birth weight and macrosomia are associated with increased risk of complications during labor and puerperium. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy and error in predicting fetal weights in-utero using clinical and ultrasonographic methods of fetal weight estimations. This prospective study was carried out on 200 mothers with singleton term pregnancy admitted for delivery. Accuracy of birth weight estimation was determined by calculating the absolute percentage error and the ratio by percentage of estimate within 10% of actual birth weight. Result: The mean actual birth weight was 3,242 ± 508g. The mean absolute percentage errors of both clinical and ultrasound methods were 11.16% ± 9.48 and 9.036% ± 7.61 respectively and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.205). The accuracy within 10% of actual birth weights were 69.5% and 72% for both clinical estimation of fetal weight and ultrasound respectively and the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.755). In both normal fetal weight group and macrosomia, no significant difference was observed in their measure of accuracy. However, in the low birth weight group, ultrasound method was better in predicting the actual birth weight. Conclusion: Clinical method (Dare’s method) is comparable to Hadlock method of predicting birth weight at term. However, when low birth weight is suspected in low resource areas, ultrasound should be recommended for better prediction of fetal weight.
Abstract: Clinical and ultrasound measurement of fetal weight provides a non-invasive and precise way of obtaining information of fetal size. Both low birth weight and macrosomia are associated with increased risk of complications during labor and puerperium. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy and error in predicting fetal weights in-u...
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