Determination of the arm circumference in newborn infants as a method of verifying low birth weight
Alves, J.G.; Lima, G.M.; Azevedo, G.N.; Cabral, V.B.; Moggi, R.S.; Nunes, R.
Boletin de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana. Pan American Sanitary Bureau 111(3): 215-217
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-0632 PMID: 1836328 Document Number: 367961
The authors studied 1,024 newborns in Recife, Brazil, to determine the association between arm circumference and birth weight. A strong correlation between these two parameters was found (R = +0.78). Specificity and sensitivity of this measurement in detecting low birth weight were also high. The authors concluded that arm circumference can be used as an alternative method of detecting at-risk neonates in areas where birth weight cannot be measured accurately.