What type of data was used to develop the Fenton growth chart?

• A. Cross-sectional data
• B. Longitudinal data
• C. Randomized trial data
• D. Case-control data

Answer: (A)

Fenton charts are built from measurements taken from many different infants at birth across a range of gestational ages. Each infant contributes a single data point (weight, length, etc.), and these cross-sectional observations are pooled to map the distribution at each gestational age, allowing percentile curves to be drawn. Longitudinal data would follow the same infants over time and isn’t used to create birth-size references. Randomized trial or case-control data aren’t suitable for this purpose because they can introduce biases related to interventions or disease status. So, the chart was developed using cross-sectional data.