Secular changes of anthropometric parameters in newborns from Gracanica area in the period from 1998 to 2008.

INTRODUCTION Growth and development of children can be observed on individual and population level. Anthropometric measures are main indicators of that development. Secular trend of anthropometric measures increase in BiH and in the world is most often observed during the adolescence period. Changes in anthropometric measures are also investigated in newborns (body length, birth weight, head circumference, upper arm circumference and others) and are correlated with different endogenous and exogenous factors. Purpose of this paper is to analyze birth weight, body length and head circumference in newborns from Gracanica area, which were born in the period from 2007 to 2008, compare them with information's collected in 1998 and 1999, and then determine eventual secular trend. EXAMINEES AND METHODS Examinees were babies born in period from January 1st to December 31st 1998, and from January 1st 2007 to December 28th 2008. The method was retrospective and used information is from The Book of Protocols at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dr M. Beganović Hospital in Gracanica. In observed period (1998 and 1999, 2007 and 2008) more girls was born than boys (N = 1801). RESULTS Newborns in Gracanica (2007-2008) weighted 3564 grams and female newborns weighted 3321+/- 333 grams in total sample. Body length in female newborns is 55.37; and male newborns 56.32. CONCLUSIONS Acceleration of growth of observed anthropometric parameters was established in newborns from Gracanica, in the period from 1998 to 2008 (for birth weight it is 84.96 g/dec; for body length it is 1,13 cm/dec and for head circumference it is 0.34 cm/dec).