The test–re-test reliability of routine infant anthropometry at primary care hospitals in Chongqing, PR China

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reliable measurements of infants obtained from routine clinical practice are scarce. AIM: To investigate the reliability of anthropometric measurements collected in routine clinical practice at primary care hospitals in Chongqing, PR China. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The convenience sample comprised measurements from 739 infants aged <36 months. Using typical methods, child healthcare clinicians (CHCCs) measured four variables (recumbent and crown-rump lengths and head and chest circumferences); child healthcare nurses (CHCNs) performed re-measurement using standardized anthropometric techniques. Intra- and inter-observer measurement reliability were assessed mainly using technical error of measurement (TEM), mean absolute difference (MAD) and coefficient of reliability (R). RESULTS: Intra-observer MADs of the four measurements were significantly smaller among CHCNs than among CHCCs (p < 0.05). The inter-observer TEMs of recumbent length and head circumference measurements were 0.58-0.68 and 0.38-0.48 cm, MADs were 0.60-0.71 and 0.40-0.51 cm and Rs were 0.968-0.995 and 0.937-0.971. Crown-rump length TEMs and MADs were 0.77-0.83 and 0.81-0.87 cm and Rs were 0.896-0.961. Chest circumference TEMs and MADs were >1.00 cm and Rs were <0.90. CONCLUSIONS: Recumbent length and head circumference measurements were fair. Crown-rump length and chest circumference measurements were less reliable.

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