RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Is it appropriate to use WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study standards to assess the growth parameters of Sri Lankan babies? A single-centre cross-sectional study JF BMJ Paediatrics Open FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP e000174 DO 10.1136/bmjpo-2017-000174 VO 2 IS 1 A1 Ishanya Ayeshini Abeyagunawardena A1 Arundhi Abeynayake A1 Thushani Anuththara A1 Kasun Alawaththegama A1 Sakuni Amanda A1 Vishaka Abeyrathne A1 Prabhadi Amaradasa A1 Buddhika Anuradha A1 Hanan Ahmed A1 Chathupa Abeykoon A1 Dinesh Malcolm Gerard Fernando YR 2018 UL http://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/2/1/e000174.abstract AB Objective To compare the anthropometric measurements of newborns in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka, with WHO standards.Methods Birth weight, length and occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) of 400 consecutive, term newborns of healthy mothers were measured in a tertiary care hospital.Results 400 subjects were approached and seven were excluded, concluding the study population to 184 boys and 209 females. Medians of birth weight, length and OFC were 3000 g, 49.95 cm and 34.15 cm of males and IQRs were 555.00, 2.70 and 1.70, respectively. For females, the medians of birth weight, length and OFC were 2900 g, 48.9 cm and 34.00 cm with IQRs of 450.00, 2.70 and 1.50, respectively. The two-tailed t-test revealed that median weights of males (t=9.632) and females (t=12.04) and OFC of males (t=3.98) were significantly lower than the WHO medians. There was a significant association of birth weight, with mother’s prepregnancy weight, in males (β coefficient=12.629 with 95% CI 6.275 to 18.982) and females (β coefficient=5.880, 95% CI 1.434 to 10.325). Significant associations of length (β coefficient=0.046, 95% CI 0.012 to 0.080) and OFC (β coefficient=0.033, 95% CI 0.014 to 0.053) with mother’s prepregnancy weight in males and length (β coefficient=0.084, 95% CI 0.022 to 0.145) and weight (β coefficient=10.780, 95% CI 0.93 to 20.629) with maternal age in females were found. Furthermore, birth weight in males was significantly associated with maternal height (β coefficient=10.899, 95% CI 0.552 to 21.247). Education level, ethnicity and parity showed no significant associations with above parameters.Conclusion The median weights of both sexes and OFC in males were significantly lower than the WHO standards. Island-wide studies are indicated to evaluate the appropriateness of applying WHO standards to Sri Lankan newborns.