L J van Bogaert1. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MEDUNSA Satellite Campus Philadelphia Hospital, Dennilton, South Africa. donna@phila.ns.healthlink.org.za
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gravidograms and fetal growth curves should be customized, i.e. tailor made for a specific ethnic group. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 800 pregnant Xhosa women attending antenatal care in the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). The data measured was used to compare the correlation between the symphysis-fundus height measurement (SFHM) and the sonographic estimate of gestational age (SEGA), as well as the intra-uterine fetal growth curve with existing gravidograms and fetal growth charts. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the SFHM and the SEGA: r = 0.91 (P < 0.0001). The correlation between the SFHM and the sonographic estimate of fetal weight (SEFW) yielded a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.40 (P < 0.0001). The correlation between the SEFW and SEGA resulted in a r = 0.97 (P < 0.0001). The customized gravidogram and fetal growth chart followed the general trend seen in their Caucasian equivalents. CONCLUSION: The comparison of our customized gravidogram and intra-uterine fetal growth curve with similar charts established in Caucasians does not show any significant difference.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether gravidograms and fetal growth curves should be customized, i.e. tailor made for a specific ethnic group. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 800 pregnant Xhosa women attending antenatal care in the Eastern Cape Province (South Africa). The data measured was used to compare the correlation between the symphysis-fundus height measurement (SFHM) and the sonographic estimate of gestational age (SEGA), as well as the intra-uterine fetal growth curve with existing gravidograms and fetal growth charts. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the SFHM and the SEGA: r = 0.91 (P < 0.0001). The correlation between the SFHM and the sonographic estimate of fetal weight (SEFW) yielded a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.40 (P < 0.0001). The correlation between the SEFW and SEGA resulted in a r = 0.97 (P < 0.0001). The customized gravidogram and fetal growth chart followed the general trend seen in their Caucasian equivalents. CONCLUSION: The comparison of our customized gravidogram and intra-uterine fetal growth curve with similar charts established in Caucasians does not show any significant difference.
Authors: Rachel Whelan; Lauren Schaeffer; Ingrid Olson; Lian V Folger; Saima Alam; Nayab Ajaz; Karima Ladhani; Bernard Rosner; Blair J Wylie; Anne C C Lee Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-08-25 Impact factor: 3.752