TITLE:
Draft of an Anthropometric Reference System for Full-Term Cameroonian Newborns: Prospective Study with Analytical Aim in the Maternity Wards of Douala
AUTHORS:
Henri Essome, Charlotte Epossè Ekoube, Fulbert Mangala Nkwele, Rita Carole Mbono Betoko, Irène Cyrielle Edjoa Mboe, Michel Roger Ekono, Alphonse Ngalame Nyong, Robert Tchounzou, Ingrid Doriane Ofakem Ilick, Hassanatou Iyawa, Moustapha Bilkissou, Astrid Ndolo Kondo, Junie Ngaha Yaneu, Marga Vanina Ngono Akam, Gervais Mounchikpou Ngouhouo, Grâce Tocki Toutou, Nelly Noubi, Valère Mve Koh, Théophile Nana Njamen
KEYWORDS:
Anthropometry, Full-Term Newborn, Douala
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
26,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Anthropometry applied to newborns is a reliable indicator of the quality
of fetal growth. The latter is influenced by genetic, racial and nutritional
factors varying from one population to another, explaining why a standard
cannot be applied to all populations. Research question: should the
Caucasian frame of reference be dogmatically applied in our African context?
Multicenter studies are therefore necessary; hence the interest of this work,
the main objective of which was to describe the anthropometric profile of
full-term newborns in the city of Douala. Methodology: We carried out a
cross-sectional study with an analytical aim and prospective data collection in
the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, Laquintinie Hospital,
District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months
(January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive,
vaginally or by cesarean section, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term
single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given consent. We excluded newborns whose
term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of
embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using structured and pre-tested
survey sheets. The study variables were obstetric and anthropometric.
Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0
software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the
means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value
Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were
included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The average anthropometric
parameters of the full-term newborn in the city of Douala were: average weight:
3305 grams, average height: 49.8 centimeters, average head circumference: 34.6
centimeters, average upper arm circumference: 11.3 centimeters, circumference
average thoracic: 32.8 centimeters. The percentile distribution showed a 10th
percentile at 2656 grams and a 90th percentile at 3966 grams for weight
defining the limits for small-for-gestational-age neonates and macrosomes. Conclusion: The anthropometric data of the full-term newborn in the city of
Douala were: an average weight of 3305.4 grams, an average height of 49.8
centimeters, an average head circumference of 34.2 centimeters, an average
upper arm circumference of 11.3 centimeters, and an average thoracic
circumference of 32.8 centimeters with higher valuesin male newborns.