Estimation model of birthweight based on waist circumference

Abstract

Nutritional status of pregnant women can be measured by anthropometry which is simple and non expensive. Waist circumference of pregnant women (WCP) may reflects uterus dan fetus growth. The objective of this study is to develop an estimation model of birthweight based on WCP during the third trimester. For this purpose 250 pregnant women were selected from six health centers and five midwife clinics of Tanah Sareal, Bogor. Body height and weight, waist and hip circumferences, mid-upper arm circumference, fundal height were measured on 28th, 32nd , and 36th week of gestation. Body weight prior to pregnancy, history of pregnancy and birth, symptoms and diseases, and food consumption was collected through an interview. The results show the two most appropriate estimation models of birthweight are based on WCP (R2=28.58%) and body weight (R2=28.27%) on 28 week of gestation, with the equations are : birthweight = 166.4(WCP)3 - 977.6(WCP)2 + 1914.7(WCP) - 1246.6 and birthweight = 14.7(body weight)3 - 79.4(body weight)2 + 143.1(body weight) - 82.5. This implies that the WCP and body weight can be used as a simple predictor of birthweight and of fetus growth.