Publication: One year follow up study of term babies born at Kathmandu medical college teaching hospital
Date
2004
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: To study the mean, standard deviation and centiles for anthropometry and haemoglobin in healthy term
infants followed up to 12 months of age. Design: Cohort study Settings: Kathmandu Medical College Teaching
Hospital (KMCTH) in Kathmandu. Subject: Consecutive healthy term newborns Method: 100 consecutive healthy
term newborns were enrolled at birth.19 babies were lost in follow up. So, 81(45 male, 36 female) healthy, full term
infants were followed up from birth to 12 months of age. Anthropometry (weight, length, and head circumference)
and haemoglobin were measured at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. Haemoglobin was
estimated by Hemocue microcuvette method. The data so obtained was subjected to statistical analysis by using
SPSS computer package.
Main outcomes: Mean, centile and standard deviation score values for weight (Kgs), infant length (cms), head
circumference (cms) and haemoglobin (gm/dl) at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. Results:
Out of 100 babies enrolled, data presented here is for the remaining 81 babies. Among 81 babies, 76 were
appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 3 were small for gestation (SFD). The mean, standard deviation and
percentile values are presented for anthropometry (weight, length and head circumference) and haemoglobin at
birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months of age. The mean birth weight was 3.05 kg (SD 0.41). The mean
infant length and head circumference at birth were 49 cm (2.28) and 33.8 cm (SD1.4) respectively. The mean
haemoglobin at birth was 15.7 gm/dl (SD 2.29). At 12 months of age mean weight, length, head circumference and
haemoglobin were 9 kg (SD 0.81), 73.5 cm (SD 2.9), 45 cm (SD 1.2 ) and 11.1 gm/dl (SD 1.41) respectively.
Almost 50% of the babies at 6 weeks, 9 months and 12 months of age were found to be anaemic (Hb <11 gm/dl).
Among the babies, 49% were exclusively breast fed for 6 months of age. Other feeding practices seen were,
mother’s breast feed with water supplementation (25%), mother’s breast feeding with formula feed (16%) and
formula feeding only (5%). National and international comparisons of anthropometry and haemoglobin data are
shown in table.