Antenatal detection of small-for-gestational-age babies : choice of a symphysis-fundus growth curve

Date
1988
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health & Medical Publishing Group
Abstract
By using symphysis-fundus measurements serially and plotting them on a curve, small-for-gestational-age babies can be detected. To determine which symphysis-fundus curve to choose for our population, the predictive values of three of the commonly used of these growth curves were compared using serial measurements obtained from 97 low-risk obstetric patients with accurate gestational ages. The curves of Calvert and Quaranta had the best sensitivities of 92,9% each compared with Belizan's (85,7%). However, the specificity of Calvert's and Quaranta's curves were poorer being 74,7% and 50,6% compared with 89,2% for Belizan. The positive predictive value for the curves were Belizan 57,1%, Calvert 38,2% and Quaranta 24,1%. The results indicate that for a Third-World urban population Belizan's curve is most suitable.
Description
CITATION: Pattinson, R. C. 1988. Antenatal detection of small-for-gestational-age babies : choice of a symphysis-fundus growth curve. South African Medical Journal, 74:282-283.
The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.za
Keywords
Prenatal care
Citation