Assessment of Gestational Age using Newborn Foot Length: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Gestational age, foot length, birth weight, anthropometric measurements, neonatal care, resource-limited settingsAbstract
Abstract: Background: Accurate assessment of gestational age and birth weight is crucial for neonatal care. Foot length has been proposed as a simple and reliable method for estimating gestational age. Objective: To investigate the correlation between foot length, gestational age, and anthropometric measurements in newborns. Materials and Method:Prospective cross-sectional study of 230 newborns, measuring foot length, gestational age, birth weight, head circumference, and crown-heel length. Results: Significant positive correlations were found between foot length and gestational age (r=0.73, p<0.001), birth weight (r=0.73, p<0.001), and head circumference (r=0.54, p<0.001). Strong correlations were also observed between foot length and gestational age across different term pregnancy and birth size classifications. Conclusion: Foot length is a reliable proxy measurement for gestational age and birth weight assessment, particularly in resource-limited settings.
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