DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i01.0044

Pages: 209-212

The incidence of low birth weight babies continues to be high in India (30%) and other developing countries when compared to developed countries (5-7%). Preterm babies account for only 10% of LBW babies, the rest being term intrauterine growth retarded infants.The objective of the study was clinical assessment of nutritional status of neonate using CANSCORE and comparison with other methods of determining fetal malnutrition. It was a cross sectional study in a tertiary care hospital. The study subjects were 384 liveborn singleton neonates with known gestational age and no major congenital malformation. Birth weight, Birth length, mid arm circumference and head circumference recorded in newborns. Ponderal index and mid arm to head circumference ratio were calculated. Clinical assessment of nutritional status was done on the basis of CANSCOREand compared with other methods. CANSCORE< 25 separated 67.71% of the babies as well nourished and 32.29% as malnourished. Weight for age and MAC/HC classified nearly 70% of babies as well nourished and 30% as malnourished. Also Ponderal Index classified 75.52% the babies as well nourished and 24.48% as malnourished. CANSCOREmay be a simple clinical index for identifying fetal malnutrition and for prediction of neonatal morbidity associated with it, without the aid of any sophisticated equipments.