Correlation Between Intrapartum Fundal Height and Birth Weight

HE Onah, ACC Ikeme, PO Nkwo

Abstract

In a prospective cross-sectional study, the correlation between symphysiofundal height (SFH) and birth weight was evaluated in 2646 consecutive parturients at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, over a 19-month period. The standard deviations of the observed birth weights were least when the SFH measured 33–39cm, which corresponded to the birth weight range 2500–3999g. The overall standard deviation was  275g. A second order polynomial fitted the data best, giving the equation y ± 258.1-62.9x-3.8x2, where y represents the observed birth weight in grams and x the SFH in centimetres. The R2 statistic for the model was 0.82. This and other assessments showed a good model fit. The birth weight centiles for the various SFH measurements were derived and their usefulness discussed. It was concluded that the SFH-derived birth weight centiles are useful alternatives to ultrasonography especially in the birth weight range 2500–3999g. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[2]: 23–29)

 

Keywords: Symphysiofundal height, birth weight, correlation

 

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