Data Element Detail

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Identifying and Definitional Attributes
Representational Attributes
Collection and Usage Attributes
Relational Attributes
Source and Reference Attributes

Birth-head circumference, total centimetres

Identifying and Definitional Attributes

Identifier & Version

QH 042081 v1

Metadata Item Type

Data Element

Data Element Type

Data Element

Approval Status

Draft
28-Jun-2017

Current
30-Jan-2018

Superseded
15-Mar-2021

Approval Type

Standard

Approving Authority

Information Management Strategic Governance Committee (IMSGC), Queensland Health

Effective From

01-Jul-2016

Effective To

30-Jun-2019

Definition

The head circumference of a baby at birth, measured in centimetres.

Context

Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC)

Short Name

Head circumference at birth (QPDC)

Name in Other Contexts

Representational Attributes

Datatype

Real

Representation Class

Quantitative Value

Format

N(2).N

Minimum Character Length

Maximum Character Length

Permissible Values

Permissible_values


Valid values in the range 00.0 - 99.7

Supplementary Values

Supplemenary_values

Code	Description
99.8	Not measured
99.9	Not stated/unknown

Collection and Usage Attributes

Guide for Use

This metadata item applies to newborn babies. It enables the calculation of growth centiles which requires the measurement of head circumference and birth weight and/or length. Baby head circumference together with other anthropometric measurements assist with determining whether a baby is small for gestational age or has experienced intrauterine growth restriction. In addition, head circumference measurement enables identification of newborns with microcephaly, either primary or as an association with other pathology, for example, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Head circumference should preferably be measured in the first hour of life at the same time as the birthweight is measured, to maximise comparability of these two measures in percentile calculations. A narrow, flexible, inelastic tape measure with clearly legible intervals and labels should be used.

Ideally the circumference should be plotted on a percentile chart to ensure it is within the 10th-90th percentile curves and consistent with the length and weight percentile.

New

Verification Rules

Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC):
Must be a number to one decimal place in the range 00.0-99.9.
Must not be null.

Collection Methods

The maximum head circumference should be recorded. Often after birth, the newborn's head has some moulding so care needs to be taken to find the maximum circumference. Generally this is found with the tape passing just above the eyebrows anteriorly, above the top of the ears and around the maximum point of the occiput posteriorly - the Occipito-Frontal Circumference (OFC).

The measurement should be repeated at least twice, and until two measurements are found within 0.5 cm of each other. Record the greater measurement.

Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC):
Do not transmit the decimal point. Transmit as a three character string, zero filled from the left.

For national reporting of the Birth-head circumference, total centimetres (NHDD) data element values 99.8 (Not measured) and 99.9 (Not stated/unknown) are mapped to value 999.9 Not measured.

Comments

Relational Attributes

Related Metadata References

Related Metadata References_IR

1 - 1

View	Relationship	Metadata Item Type	Metadata Item Subtype	Name	Identifier & Version	Approval Status
	Has been superseded by	Data Element	Data Element	Product of birth-head circumference, total centimetres	QH 042081 Version 2	Current

Implementation in Metadata Sets

Implemented

1 - 4

Metadata Item Type	Metadata Item Subtype	Name	Identifer & Version	Obligation	Approval Status	Effective From	Effective To
Information Asset	Data Collection	Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC)	QH 020003 Version 1	Mandatory	Superseded	01-Jul-2000	30-Jun-2019
Data Supply Requirement	HHS Service Agreement	Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Baby Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2016-2017	QH 020355 Version 1	Mandatory	Superseded	01-Jul-2016	30-Jun-2017
Data Supply Requirement	HHS Service Agreement	Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Baby Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2017-2018	QH 020358 Version 1	Mandatory	Superseded	01-Jul-2017	30-Jun-2018
Data Supply Requirement	HHS Service Agreement	Queensland Perinatal Data Collection (QPDC) Baby Data Supply Requirement (DSR) 2018-2019	QH 020449 Version 1	Mandatory	Superseded	01-Jul-2018	30-Jun-2019

Data Quality Declaration

Source and Reference Attributes

Source Organisation

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Source Document

METeOR data element: Birth-head circumference, total centimetres NN[N].N, Identifier 568380, Health standard 04/09/2015: https://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/568380/meteorItemView/long

Keywords

CRDI; CRDI QPDC; Head circumference; Head size;