Abstract:
A study was conducted with the aim of
establishing the mean birth weight, crown-heel
iength and head circumference for Sri Lankan
newborns. A total of 1,325 normal, singleton
babies (993 Sinhalese and 332 Moor) with
ultrasonicaliy confirmed period of gestation, born
at the Maternity Unit of the Base Hospital
Kegalle, were selected. Means.and standard
deviations for the above measurements of the
Sinhalese and Moor babies were established.
Since the number of babies belonging to the
Tamil ethnic group was small for statistical
analysis, they were excluded from the study. For
all three measurements, the mean values of male
newborns were higher than those of the female
newborns. V/hen compared with the Sinhalese,
the Moor males and females had highly
significant higher values for birth weight, crownheel
length and head circumference (P<0.001).
Simple linear regression analyses were carried
out between the baby's weight and maternal
measures such as height, weight, age and parity.
A significant relationship was observed between
the baby's weight and mother's weight
