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Symphysis‐fundal height growth chart of an obstetric cohort of 817 Mozambican women with ultrasound‐dated singleton pregnancies
Author(s) -
Challis Kenneth,
Osman Nafissa Bique,
Nyström Lennarth,
Nordahl Gunnar,
Bergström Staffan
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00907.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , growth chart , body mass index , cohort , pregnancy , underweight , population , gestational age , singleton , gynecology , gestation , pediatrics , overweight , environmental health , pathology , biology , genetics
Our aim was to construct a new symphysis‐fundus height (SFH) growth chart, based on Mozambican women with ultrasound‐dated singleton pregnancy, who represent the largest obstetric cohort in a developing country followed for this purpose. Two antenatal clinics were chosen in the suburban area of Maputo City. A cohort of 904 consecutively recruited antenatal clients was followed until delivery. The growth of the SFH was measured every second to third week. Gestational age was determined by ultrasound at enrolment. Women with multiple pregnancy or with gestational age > 21 weeks at enrolment were excluded. The average number of antenatal SFH measurements per woman was 7.8 (SD 2.4). The drop out rate was 9.6%. Mean birthweight was 2909 g. Pre‐term deliveries occurred in 15% and low birthweight deliveries (< 2500 g) in 16%. Using proper longitudinal methods, we constructed an FH growth chart and compared it with various previously published SFH charts, which showed the Mozambican chart to be 0–3 cm below the others. Nulliparous women were 0.5 cm below multiparous women. We did not find any difference in the SFH growth charts between women with or without overt morbidity. Women with a body mass index (BMI) < 19 and women with a BMI > 27 had approximately 1 cm lower and 1 cm higher readings, respectively, than women with normal BMI. The Mozambican SFH growth chart is an example of an elaborated growth chart for a well‐defined population in alow‐income country. It constitutes the basis for further studies to predict the small‐for‐gestational age newborn from anthropometrical data obtained by use of appropriate technology.