Abstract :
Background: It is important to find out the most effective method for monitoring the growth of the fetus. The method should also identify the women with problematic pregnancy prone to IUGR so that early action can be taken to prevent adverse consequences.
Objective: To study the utility of clinical methods and ultrasonography compared to actual birth weight in estimating the fetal birth weight
A Hospital based Comparative Longitudinal Study was carried out among 200 antenatal women. Symphysio-Fundal Height (SFH) measurements and fetal weight was estimated by simplified Johnson’s formula: McDonald’s measurement for estimation of SFH wasdone i.e., distance from height of fundus to the upper edge of pubic symphysis.SFH at different weeks of gestation from 24 weeks until delivery was noted with a non-stretch centimeter tape. Fetal weight was estimated by Hadlock’s formula using USG.
Results: Sensitivity of 74.55% and specificity of 95.17% was observed for Johnson’s method while sensitivity of 90.91% and specificity of 98.62% by USG method. Mean difference between birth weights estimated by USG compared to actual birth weight was lesser (59.73 gm) compared to 418.96 gm by Johnson’s method. Mean error by USG was less (127.86 gm) compared to Johnson’s method (437.23 gm). Johnson’s method was found to be have less percentage error overall, across the birth weight categories. Overestimation of actual birth weight by USG method was seen in 131 cases compared to 192 cases by Johnson’s method.
Conclusion: Of the two methods studied for estimation of fetal weight, ultrasonographic method, i.e., Hadlock’s formula has better predictable results in fetal weight estimation, compared to clinical method, i.e., Johnson’s formula
Keyword :
Efficacy, IUGR, Fetal weight, Ultrasonography, Detection