Anthropometric Indices

Newborns with fetal malnutrition had significantly lower average anthropometric values than newborns without fetal malnutrition, except length was not significantly different. Birth weight alone is insufficient for identifying fetal nutritional status. Anthropometric indices can help assess intrauterine growth but may fail to detect soft tissue depletion. Ponderal index reflects newborn thinness, but thinness does not necessarily mean pathological wasting. The study compared CAN score against birth weight, length, head circumference, mid-arm circumference, ponderal index, MAC/HC ratio, BMI, and birth size standards.