Calf circumference as a birth weight surrogate
Sachar, R.K.; Soni, R.K.; Afzal, T.; Singh, H.; Grewal, J.; Sofat, R.
Indian Journal of Maternal and Child Health Official Publication of Indian Maternal and Child Health Association 5(2): 39-40
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-8928 PMID: 12318803 Document Number: 284885
There remains a need to determine low birth weight in settings such as the home, where scales are not easily available. This study examined the calf circumference at a prominent point on a semi-flexed leg with a standard measuring tape to the nearest .1 cm and birth weight to the nearest 5 g. The sample included 257 full term singleton infants. The results of the correlation coefficient analysis was r = .74, which indicates a high degree of correlation between the two measures. The mean of birth weight was 2.96 g plus or minus .41 and the mean calf circumference was 9.87 cm plus or minus 1.07. Birth weight can be calculated from calf circumference by adding .172 to the multiplication of .283 times calf circumference. The calf circumference appears to exhibit the strongest correlation with birth weight regardless of the sample. A color-coded tape had been prepared which demarcated in yellow 6.5 cm and 8.25 cm as the range equivalent to 2.0 kg and 2.5 kg low birth weight. The area below 6.5 cm was colored red and the area below 8.25 was colored green. Currently, data is being collected on the efficacy and positive predictive value of using the tapes.