ArticleBMJ open2020
Prediction of gestational age with symphysis-fundal height and estimated uterine volume in a pregnancy cohort in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01572532 (Maternal Genitourinary Infections and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Sylhet District, Bangladesh), which is not on this map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Maternal Genitourinary Infections and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes in Sylhet District, Bangladesh
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Second and third trimester estimation of gestational age using ultrasound or maternal symphysis-fundal height measurements: A systematic review.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Measuring ENAP interventions for small and/or sick newborns in routine health information systems: indicators and considerations from a WHO expert consultation.Journal of global health · 2025Article
- Lecturers' perceptions on student midwives' competence in symphysis fundal height measurement.Health SA = SA Gesondheid · 2025Article
- Maternal serum biomarkers of placental insufficiency at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy in relation to the risk of delivering small-for-gestational-age infant in Sylhet, Bangladesh: a prospective cohort study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- Implementation of a novel ultrasound training programme for midwives in Malawi: A mixed methods evaluation using the RE-AIM framework.Frontiers in health services · 2022Article
- Training in Ultrasound to Determine Gestational Age (TUDA): Evaluation of a Novel Education Package to Teach Ultrasound-Naive Midwives Basic Obstetric Ultrasound in Malawi.Frontiers in global women's health · 2022Article
- Effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in Ghana.BMJ global health · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors at 7 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo improve the accuracy of the prediction of gestational age (GA) before birth with the standardised measurement of symphysis-fundal height (SFH), estimation of uterine volume, and statistical modelling including maternal anthropometrics and other factors.
designProspective pregnancy cohort study.
settingRural communities in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
participants1516 women with singleton pregnancies with early pregnancy ultrasound dating (<20 weeks); 1486 completed follow-up.
methodsSFH and abdominal girth were measured at subsequent antenatal care (ANC) visits by community health workers at 24 to 28, 32 to 36, and/or >37 weeks gestation. An estimated uterine volume (EUV) was calculated from these measures. Data on pregnancy characteristics and other maternal anthropometrics were also collected. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: GA at subsequent ANC visits, as defined by early ultrasound dating.
results1486 (98%) women had at least one subsequent ANC visit, 1102 (74%) women had two subsequent ANC visits, and 748 (50%) had three visits. Using the common clinical practice of approximating the GA (in weeks) with the SFH measurement (cm), SFH systematically underestimated GA in late pregnancy (mean difference -4.4 weeks, 95% limits of agreement -12.5 to 3.7). For the classification of GA <28 weeks, SFH <26 cm had 85% sensitivity and 81% specificity; and for GA <34 weeks, SFH <29 cm had 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity. EUV had similar diagnostic accuracy. Despite rigorous statistical modelling of SFH, accounting for repeated longitudinal measurements and additional predictors, the best model without including a known last menstrual period predicted 95% of pregnancy dates within ±7.4 weeks of early ultrasound dating.
conclusionsWe were unable to predict GA with a high degree of accuracy before birth using maternal anthropometric measures and other available maternal characteristics. Efforts to improve GA dating in low- and middle-income countries before birth should focus on increasing coverage and training of ultrasonography. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01572532.
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