A study of anthropometric parameters of tribal male and female newborns of Udaipur district

Poor nutrition and bad health during pregnancy, due to ignorance or poverty, may reversely affect both – mother as well as newborn. This is well known fact that Tribes are different from general population in their socio-demographic characteristics, literacy, cultural practices and in their health seeking behavior. Apart from maternal factor one more important infantile factor affects the anthropometric parameters of newborn i.e. the gender of babies. Aims & Objective: Present study was conducted on tribal newborns of Udaipur district to know the effect of gender on anthropometric parameters of Newborns. Material & Method: A Cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, RNT Medical College and Hospitals, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. All the anthropometric parameters of 680 tribal newborns were taken from; newborns delivered at Government health institutes of Udaipur district, at Pannadhay Ward of Maharana Bhopal Government Hospital of RNT Medical College and Hospitals. Results: Mean values of Birth weight, Crown Heel Length, Head Circumference, Chest Circumference, Abdominal Circumference, Foot Length and Skin Fold Thickness were significantly higher in male. Mean values for Thigh Circumference, Mid arm Circumference and Calf Circumference was also higher in male; however it was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The anthropometric parameters of newborns revealed a significant difference between male and female newborns.