Measurement error, microcephaly prevalence and implications for Zika: an analysis of Uruguay perinatal data.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

The Zika virus outbreak has drawn attention to microcephaly, whose definition is based on head circumference measuring below a percentile or number of SDs below the mean. The objective of this analysis was to assess how differences in measurement precision might affect prevalence and trends of microcephaly.

Methods

Data from all births in Uruguay during 2010-2015 were obtained from the Perinatal Information System. The prevalence of births with microcephaly was calculated based on head circumference measurement at birth applying the INTERGROWTH-21^st standards for sex and gestational age, and compared by method of ascertaining gestational age.

Results

Rounding and digit preference was observed: 74% of head circumference measurements

SUBMITTER: Harville EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7450538 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature