Foot length measurements of newborns of high and low risk pregnancies

• Main Authors: Ana Karina Marques Salge, Érika Lopes Rocha, Maria Aparecida Munhoz Gaíva, Thaíla Correa Castral, Janaína Valadares Guimarães, Raphaela Maioni Xavier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo
• Series: Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP
• Subjects: Recién Nacido; Edad Gestacional; Embarazo de Alto Riesgo; Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso; Enfermería Maternoinfantil
• Online Access: http://revodonto.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0080-62342017000100400&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract OBJECTIVE Comparing foot length measurements of newborns in high and low risk pregnancies at a public hospital in Goiânia, GO, Brazil. METHOD A cross-sectional study carried out between April, 2013 and May, 2015, with a sample consisting of 180 newborns; 106 infants of women from high-risk pregnancies and 74 of women from low-risk pregnancies. Data were descriptively analyzed. Foot length measurement was performed using a stiff transparent plastic ruler, graduated in millimeters. The length of both feet was measured from the tip of the hallux (big toe) to the end of the heel. RESULTS A statistically significant relationship was found between the foot length and newborn’s weight, between the cephalic and thoracic perimeters in the high-risk group and between the cephalic perimeter in the control group. CONCLUSION There is a need for creating cut-off points to identify newborns with intrauterine growth disorders using foot length.