Comparison of the mean length and width of anterior fontanel among newborns in University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

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..

Keywords: Length of anterior fontanel, width of anterior fontanel, comparison, newborns.