Standard gestational birth weight ranges and Curve in Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish standard ranges and curve of mean gestational birth weights validated by ultrasonography for the Cameroonian population in Yaoundé. This cross sectional study was carried out in the Obstetrics & Gynaecology units of 4 major hospitals in the metropolis between March 5 and December 20, 2004, using pre-coded questionnaires. A total of 546 birth weights of neonates delivered to Cameroonian mothers whose duration of pregnancy were validated to be at least 28 weeks were recruited. The data was analysed using the statistical package SPSS 10.0. There was a statistically significant correlation between mean birth weight and mean gestational age (r=0.792, p<0.0001). Although the mean gestational birth weights were similar to those in the Colorado data currently in use in the country, their ranges were different. Furthermore, they were higher than those found in some African countries. We recommend the use of these standard gestational mean birth weight ranges and curve because of the differences between them and those established in the Colorado data and also because of their local specificity. We also recommend that further studies be carried out in Cameroon in order to determine factors that influence gestational birth weights.

Keywords: standard gestational mean birth weights, Cameroon, ranges, curve

Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 2(2) 2005: 339-342