Foot tape measure for identification of low birth weight newborns

The majority of births in rural India take place at home, Logistic constraints make early and reliable identification of low birth weight babies difficult. Using neonatal foot length as a proxy measure for birth weight, we devised a tri colored foot tape intended for use at home by the neonatal caretaker or birth attendant. The tape was field tested in a rural community in the Pune district. Results showed a sensitivity of 68.2% and a predictive value of 45.5% for identifying low birth weight