Shoe size and other anthropometric variables among women who had normal labour in Abakaliki, south-east Nigeria

Objective: To assess the anthropometric variables of women who had normal labour and to document the relationship between shoe size and other anthropometric variables.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 307 women who had normal labour at Mile 4 Hospital, Abakaliki, between January 2013 and January 2015. Information on sociodemographic characteristics was obtained. Shoe sizes were measured using the Genuine Brannock Device. The relationship between the shoe size and other variables were assessed using linear regression models.Results: Their mean age was 27.7 + 3.7 years. The mean height was 1.58 + 0.35 and mean weight was 65.37 + 10.31kg. The mean waist circumference of the study population was 37.19 + 3.34cm. The mean chest circumference of the subjects was 37.75 + 3.10cm. Their mean shoe size was 7.86 + 1.26. There was a positive correlation between shoe size and other anthropometric variables.Conclusion: This study showed a positive correlation between shoe size and other anthropometric variables (height, weight, chest circumference and waist circumference) among women who had normal labour. Hence shoe size may be a useful predictor for normal labour.