Context: 

Recently, Researchers from BRIC-THSTI Faridabad and IIT Madras have developed an India-specific model to determine the age of a foetus in a pregnant woman in the second and third trimesters precisely. 

About Garbhini-GA2

Garbhini-GA2 is a polynomial regression computer model, developed using the genetic algorithm-based method (using data from the GARBH-Ini study, which focused on pregnant women in North India).

• This model incorporated three of the five routinely measured ultrasonographic parameters during the second and third trimesters to calculate the fetus’s age accurately. 
• The model was trained on over 2000 ultrasound scans from Indian women with known pregnancy dates from the first trimester. 
• It demonstrated its superior accuracy compared to older formulas such as Hadlock and INTERGROWTH.

Challenges With Existing Methods  

Currently, doctors rely on formulas designed for Western populations to estimate the age of Indian fetuses, but these formulas become less reliable as the pregnancy progresses due to variations in growth patterns between Indian and Western babies. 

Significance of Garbhini-GA2

• Precision in Gestational Age Estimation 

  • In India, many pregnant women receive late prenatal care, leading to challenges in accurately dating pregnancies. 
  • Garbhini-GA2 fills this gap by providing tailored gestational age estimates based on Indian-specific data, thereby improving care and planning. 

• Facilitate better Clinical Practice 

  • Enhancing clinical outcomes for both mothers and babies :
    • It enables more precise scheduling of interventions and planning of neonatal care in accordance with the anticipated delivery date.

• Better Strategy for Public Health Policies & Resource Allocation

• • At the population level, Garbhini-GA2 can enhance estimates of preterm birth and other gestation-dependent outcomes.

News Source: The Hindu