Comparison of the Mean Length and Width of Anterior Fontanel among Newborns in Gondar City

Abstract

Background: Fontanel can be defined as a space where two or more sutures meet. There are six fontanels in the newborn skull, namely anterior, posterior, two mastoid, and two sphenoid fontanels. The anterior fontanel is the most important for clinical evaluation. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information regarding the size of anterior fontanel dimensions . Thus, this study aimed to determine and compare the average values of the length and width of the anterior fontanel and to identify the factors that affect the dimensions.

Method: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on three hundred eighty-four healthy and term newborns. A systematic sampling technique was used to select study subjects. The data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire by  interviewing the mothers of the neonates. The examination included assessment of the length and width of the anterior fontanel, birth weight, and head circumference. Socio-demographic, pregnancy, and  labor variables were also recorded. Descriptive analysis, simple linear and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to analyze the data.

Result: The mean length and width of the anterior fontanel was 3.07 ± 0.69 cm and 2.92 ± 0.61 cm, respectively.   Cesarean mode of delivery (ABC (Adjusted B-Coefficient) = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.002, 0.18)), being daily laborer (ABC = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.41, -0.05), width of anterior fontanel (ABC = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84, 0.98), and head circumference (ABC = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.050) were independently associated with  length of anterior fontanel.  Age of the newborn (ABC= 0.01, 95% CI: 0.008, 0.02) was  associated with   width of the anterior fontanel.

Conclusion: At birth, the mean length of the anterior fontanel was larger than the mean width of the anterior fontanel. This study provides an insight on the mean  length and width  anterior fontanel for term neonates in the study area. which can serve as   a baseline for future larger sample size studies to set reference values for the area..