Intrauterine growth of liveborn Malaysian infants between gestation of 28 to 42 weeks

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 8,478 consecutive normal singleton Malaysian neonates born in the Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. The objectives were to compare the mean birth-weights, crown-heel lengths and head circumferences of Malay, Chinese and Indian infants at gestation age from 28 to 42 weeks, and to construct the Malaysian growth charts. Above the gestation age of 34 weeks, the birthweights were significantly influenced by maternal gravida status (p < 0.03), ethnic origin (p < 0.001) and/or sex of the neonates (p < 0.026). Above this gestation age, neonates of multigravida mothers were significantly heavier than those of primigravida mothers; Indians were significantly lighter than Malays and Chinese; and males were significantly heavier than females. The head circumferences and body lengths of neonates were significantly influenced by ethnic origin, sex and/or maternal gravida status at gestation above 35 and 36 weeks respectively (p < 0.05). It was most likely due to the small sample size which explained our inability to detect statistically significant difference in all measurements (birthweight, length and head circumference) by sex, ethnicity and maternal gravida status at gestation below 35 weeks. Based on the measurements obtained in this study, percentile charts for the Malaysian population were constructed and made available for the first time. These charts will be useful for the assessment of Malaysian neonates during the perinatal period.