Abstract
Anthropometric parameters at birth, particularly, the birth weight are widely used indicators of newborn health and neonatal mortality. This study aims to evaluate the effect of residence at high lands on the anthropometric measurements of newborns in Taif province, Saudi Arabia (high altitude area) to provide guidelines for neonatal assessment in high lands. A cross-sectional study included 1534 newborns in Taif city (2000 to 2400 meters above sea level), Western Province of Saudi Arabia, collected during a period of 6 months (from November 2014 through April 2015). The newborns and their mothers were subjected to various measurements of body dimensions and body weight. The data were developed in comparison with the international growth references and national populations residing at sea level. We found that the birth weight and birth length of Taif newborns are significantly lower than those of international standards and those of newborns residing at sea level, in Saudi Arabia. Also, there was a high incidence of low birth weight (15.6%) and preterm babies (10.9%) in Taif newborns. In this study, we concluded that high altitude reduces, significantly, the birth weight and birth length independent of other affecting factors. Other risk factors appear to influence newborn measures at high altitude in much the same way as at other altitudes. The effect of residence at high altitude on the prematurity rate needs further investigations.