Use of fetal biometry in the assessment of gestational age in South East Nigeria: Femur length and biparietal diameter

Abstract

Background: Fetal growth is influenced by many factors such as race, socioeconomic status, genetics, geographical location, maternal diseases, and number of babies. Consequent upon these, fetal growth charts may vary from one location to another even within the same geographical entity.

Objective: This study was designed to establish the fetal growth chart in antenatal women who had ultrasound scanning at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive analysis of fetal biometric measurement of antenatal women. Four hundred and seventy pregnant women were studied.

Results: The nomogram for the femur length (FL) and biparietal diameter (BPD) for the different weeks of gestation (from 13th to the 40th week) were established. Correlation coefficients between gestational age and the various fetal parameters were also reported. Growth charts using both FL and BPD were plotted. A regression model for prediction of fetal age using the fetal biometry was also deduced for the studied population.

Conclusion: The fetal parameters used in this study were consistently smaller than reported values from European studies up to the 34th week of gestation after which a catch‑up growth till the 40 weeks was observed. Fetal parameters observed in this study were larger than most of the reported Asian values.

Keywords: Fetal biometry, gestational age, intrauterine growth curve, South East Nigeria, ultrasound