Efficacy of colour coded strips for classifying birth weights
Sachar, R.K.; Soni, R.K.; Afzal, T.; Singh, H.; Sofat, R.
Indian Journal of Maternal and Child Health Official Publication of Indian Maternal and Child Health Association 5(2): 36-38
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-8928 PMID: 12318802 Document Number: 284886
Color-coded measuring tapes have been developed as surrogates for measuring birth weight with a scale. The tapes have been correlated with birth weight to indicate low birth weight. In this study, arm circumference and thigh circumference were measured with tapes indicating low birth weight: 7.0 to 8.5 cms for mid arm circumference and 11.5 and 14.5 cms for thigh circumferences. The area in between the numbers was color coded in yellow to indicate a birth weight of 2.0 to 2.5 kg. The area under the lowest number was coded red, and the are above the highest number was coded green. The strips were tested on 281 infants to determine the accuracy of this form of measurement. Use of strips and birth weights were recorded within 48 hours of the birth. The results indicated that 54% of the low birth weight infants were correctly identified with the mid arm circumference tapes. There were 13.88% who were recorded with low birth weight out of the 281 sampled. The tape reliably measured 90% of the normal birth weight infants. The thigh circumference tape was a better measure of low birth weight. 80% of low birth weight infants were identified with the thigh circumference tape, but only 85% of normal weights were identified. When the tapes were used concurrently, accuracy of low birth weight classification was increased to 87%, but normal weight remained much the same at 85% accuracy. It is recommended that these tapes be used in combination by traditional birth attendants and other grassroots workers to identify low birth weight infants and then refer these infants for special care.