A STUDY OF THE DETERMINANTS OF VARIOUS ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF NEW BORN AT BIRTH.

mean birth weight and incidence of LBW babies in this area are influenced by various maternal factors, and many of them are preventable. Method: It is a hospital based cross sectional study done by Simple random sampling consisting of 200 newborns and their respective mothers delivered 15 months. Ballard score will be used to calculate the gestational age New Bellard’ Score. Post-delivery methods of determining gestational age in premature infants have been developed and validated. The New Ballard Exam allows for gestational assessment in infants as early as 20 weeks' gestation and utilizes parameters of physical (6 criteria) and neurological (6 criteria) maturity to reach a score that correlates with gestational age. Results: LBW babies include preterm babies (17.5%) and term and post-term SGA babies (18.2%). Neonatal and IMR in these babies is very high. In the present study LBW rate was 22%. Regarding IUGR babies much work can be done to reduce the rate. It was found that 13.5% of mothers were below 20 years.1% of mothers were illiterate. Mean birth weight in primi was less and LBW rate was high. 12% of mothers were anemic. Mean maternal hemoglobin was 11.0%. Maternal anemia strongly influences mean birth weight and LBW rate. Mother receiving minimum 4 ANC visits was 99%, and still 12% of mothers were anemic. Incidence of macrosomia was high in diabetic group compared to non-diabetic group. Neonatal mortality is high in LGA babies. Conclusion: In the present study 15.5% of babies were SGA babies. Symmetric IUGR babies contribute >95% of total IUGR in this study. Birth weight was more in symmetric IUGR babies by 100 gm. Along with birth weight all other parameters under study were high in asymmetric IUGR babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]