This book consists of five parts, each of which discusses a different anthropometric indicator: pre-pregnancy weight, height, arm circumference, weight gain in pregnancy, and weight-for-height and body mass index. In each of the five parts, a background chapter, written in question-and-answer format, provides information on the indicator's current use, its relationship to other indicators, its reliability, averages, standards, and cut-off points for use in industrialized and developing countries. Additional chapters delve into issues specific to each indicator, and each part ends with a summary and recommendations for the indicator's use.
This publication will provide valuable guidelines to field personnel and researchers on the use of anthropometric indicators for predicting pregnancy outcomes.