European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

At birth HC is larger than ChC by about 2.5cm. By 6-12mnths of age, both are equal. After1st year of life, ChC tends to be larger by 2.5cm. By the age of 5 years, it is more or less 5cm greater in size than the HC. In undernourished Indian children, it may not equal to HC even by the end of the 2nd year. All the singleton live born babies born in the hospital were examined within 48 hours of birth. Gestational age was calculated by enquiring into 1st day of mothers last menstrual period and will be subsequently confirmed by New Ballard Score. If any disparity of more than 2 weeks between gestational age by enquiring LMP and by NBS, were excluded from the study. Their gestational ages ranged from 29 to 42 weeks. The mean head circumference of the babies analyzed was 33.64 cm, with the standard deviation of 1.40 cm. It was found that HC was correlated well with the gestational age. It gave a correlation coefficient “r” value of 0.680 (p<0.0001). The mean chest circumference of the babies analyzed was 31.85 cm, with the standard deviation of 2.19 cm. It was found that chest circumference was correlated well with the gestational age. It gave a highest correlation coefficient “r” value of 0.763 (p<0.0001).