A descriptive study of Cephalic and prosopic anthropometric indices in one-day-old infants in Imam Ali and Kamali Hospital, Karaj

Abstract

Objective: There is no published literature about the types of head and face shapes in the Alborz newborns. Therefore, we designed this study to report these important regional data. Methods: Head length, head width, face length, face width, prosopic and cephalic indices were made on 150 newborns (75 males and 75 females) with a view to establish the criterion of cephalometry for this age group in Iran. A special emphasis was given to delivery mode in this study. Results: There was no significant difference in cephalic and prosopic indices between two groups (female: p=0.46; male: p=0.43). Brachycephalic type was dominant and dolicocephalic type was rare in male and female neonates. There was no significant difference in head shape between two groups. Hypereuriprosopic and hyperleptoprosopic were dominant and rare types, respectively, in newborns without significant difference between two groups. Conclusion: The head and face indices in the newborn infants born by cesarean section were not significantly different from vaginal delivery group. However, the role of nutrition and climate could not be ruled out.