Modeling of body height estimation from head circumference measurement according to age in infants from birth to 12 months.

Background: Body height is an important measurement in the forensic individual identification of the body. It was aimed to estimate height from head circumference measurement values ​​representing the population according to age and to create a model for age estimation in infants from birth to 12 months.

Materials and methods: In the present study, head circumference measurements of 500 healthy infants, 250 girls and 250 boys, whose ages and heights are known, were evaluated. To estimate height by looking at head circumference separately for both genders and also in 8 different measurement periods, linear regression model, quadratic and cubic models and nonparametric, nonlinear MARS model were used. In addition, various growth curves were examined in age estimation by looking at head circumference and the most successful exponential growth curve results were given.

Results: It was found that the relationship between head circumference and height is linear, especially starting from the 6th month, according to gender and measurement periods. When the relationships between head circumference measurements and ages in girls and boys were examined with the exponential growth curve, a significant relationship was observed. Exponential growth curve model parameters were developed to be used in estimating age.

Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that height can be estimated with head circumference measurement representing the population according to age and age can be estimated using the developed model.