Abstract

PIP: Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) can result in severe after effects on brain function and school performance and should be screened for at all antenatal clinics as early as possible. This paper presents a method of scoring intrauterine growth rates based in 3 factors: serial measurements of symphysis-fundus height, abdominal girth, and maternal weight. The graph presented was drawn from data on measurements of 100 normal pregnancies among Zulu women living in rural areas. Measurements of the study population were made by doctors, midwives, and student midwives at each visit in mobile and hospital clinics. All pregnancy complications were excluded. Sensitivity of the growth score was compared with other available methods. Assessment of fetal growth by other methods is inaccurate, based on last menstrual period, and use of umbilicus as a gestational marker; the growth score system described missed 10% of IUGR pregnancies and gave a false positive screening in 8%. This method provides a more reliable screening system; particularly when a variety of health personnel are assessing fetal growth from visit to visit, it makes possible early referral for diagnosis, is inexpensive and non-invasive as well as being easily taught to paramedical community workers.