Author/Authors :
Mossayebnezhad, Raziel Department of Midwifery - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Zanjan University of Medical Sciences - Zanjan, Iran , Niknami, Maryam Department of Midwifery - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Guilan University of Medical Sciences - Rasht, Iran , Pakseresht, Sedigheh Department of Obstetrics - Social Determinants of Health Research Center (SDHRC) - Reproductive Health Research Center - Women Health Promotion - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Guilan University of Medical Sciences - Rasht, Iran , Kazemnezhad Leili, Ehsan Department of Biostatics - School of Nursing and Midwifery - Guilan University of Medical Sciences - Rasht, Iran
Abstract :
Assessment of fetal weight is a vital factor in antenatal care, not only in the
management of labor and delivery but also in identifying fetal weight disorders.
Objective: This study compares the accuracy of clinical methods and ultrasonography in
Estimating Fetal Weight (EFW) with Actual Birth Weight (ABW) in term pregnant women.
Materials and Methods: This diagnostic test evaluation study was performed on 247
single-term pregnant women admitted to an educational, therapeutic hospital in Rasht
City, Iran. In this study, abdominal palpation, Johnson’s formula, Insler’s formula, and
ultrasonography were used to estimate fetal weight. One-sample t-test, the Chi-square,
and the Bland-Altman plot were used to compare the diagnostic value of fetal weight
estimation methods. The accuracy of tests was estimated based on sensitivity and
specificity in fetal weight groups (below 2500 g, 2500- 4000 g, and above 4000 g) by the
Bland-Altman plot.
Results: The participating pregnant women had a Mean±SD age of 28.86±4.24 years, body
mass index of 32.98±6.0 kg/m2, and gestational age of 39±1.04 wk. Their Mean±SD actual
birth weight was 3343.352±432.799 gr, Also, the Mean±SD birth weight found by abdominal
palpation was 3371.053±345.561 gr, Mean±SD birth weight by Johnson’s formula 3041.206
±411 gr, by Insler’s formula 3556.316±531.567 gr, and by ultrasonography 3294.28±380.09
gr, Based on the one-sample t-test, the abdominal palpation had the lowest (P=0.261),
and the Insler’s formula (P=0.001) had the highest difference with the actual birth weight.
Regarding the fetal weight groups, Insler’s formula (96.33%) was highly accurate in Low Birth
Weight (LBW), but abdominal palpation (91.09%) was more accurate in normal weight and
macrosomia (94.72%) groups. There was a significant difference between clinical methods
with ABW (P=0.026).
Conclusion: Clinical methods are accessible, affordable, and available and can estimate fetal
weight in developing countries, especially in our country
Keywords :
Estimation techniques , Ultrasonography , Pregnancy , Birth weight , Fetal weight
