Anthropometric protocols for the construction of new international fetal and newborn growth standards: the INTERGROWTH-21st Project

BJOG. 2013 Sep;120 Suppl 2(0 2):42-7, v. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.12125. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Abstract

The primary aim of the INTERGROWTH-21(st) Project is to construct new, prescriptive standards describing optimal fetal and preterm postnatal growth. The anthropometric measurements include the head circumference, recumbent length and weight of the infants, and the stature and weight of the parents. In such a large, international, multicentre project, it is critical that all study sites follow standardised protocols to ensure maximal validity of the growth and nutrition indicators used. This paper describes, in detail, the selection of anthropometric personnel, equipment, and measurement and calibration protocols used to construct the new standards. Implementing these protocols at each study site ensures that the anthropometric data are of the highest quality to construct the international standards.

Keywords: Anthropometry; INTERGROWTH-21st; fetal growth; newborn measurements; standards.

MeSH terms

  • Body Weights and Measures / instrumentation
  • Body Weights and Measures / methods*
  • Body Weights and Measures / standards
  • Child Development*
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Cross-Sectional Studies / methods
  • Cross-Sectional Studies / standards
  • Female
  • Fetal Development*
  • Growth Charts*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature / growth & development
  • Longitudinal Studies / methods
  • Longitudinal Studies / standards
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic / methods*
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic / standards
  • Pregnancy
  • Research Design* / standards