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Comparison of neonatal growth in normal, low and very low birth weights until 18 months
Sohaila Ehsanpour1, Elaheh Hemmati, Zahra Abdeyazdan
1Department of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Insights
Low and very low birth weight infants show reduced growth in weight, length, and head circumference compared to normal birth weight infants. These neonates require focused healthcare and post-birth growth monitoring for improved health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal health
- Pediatric growth and development
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Birth weight is a critical indicator of neonatal growth and a primary determinant of infant mortality.
- Investigating growth patterns in neonates based on birth weight is crucial for early health interventions.
- This study focuses on the growth trajectory of normal, low, and very low birth weight neonates over 18 months in Isfahan, Iran.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare the growth patterns of neonates with different birth weights (normal, low, very low) over an 18-month period.
- To identify significant differences in weight, height, and head circumference among these groups.
- To provide evidence for targeted healthcare strategies for infants with suboptimal birth weights.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, retrospective study involving 214 neonates (90 normal, 90 low, 34 very low birth weight).
- Growth parameters (weight, height, head circumference) were assessed at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 months.
- Data was collected using a validated 3-part questionnaire and family health records.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in mean weight, height, and head circumference were observed between the three birth weight groups across multiple time points.
- The highest frequency of horizontal growth trends occurred at 6, 12, 15, and 18 months for the overall cohort.
- Neonates with low birth weight exhibited a higher frequency of horizontal growth trends at 12 months and descending trends at 15 months.
Conclusions:
- Low and very low birth weight infants demonstrate diminished growth in weight, length, and head circumference compared to normal birth weight infants, based on NCHS percentiles.
- These findings underscore the necessity for specialized healthcare and vigilant post-birth growth surveillance for low and very low birth weight infants.
- Enhanced monitoring and care are essential to maintain and improve the health status of vulnerable neonates.
Background:
Birth weight is considered as the most important index of neonates' growth as well as the most important determinant of infants' mortality. This study was conducted to investigate the growth pattern in normal, low and very low birth weight neonates for 18 months in the health care centers of Isfahan, Iran.
Materials And Methods:
In a cross-sectional and retrospective study, 214 neonates (90 with normal, 90 with low and 34 with very low birth weights) were enrolled in the health care centers of Isfahan and their growth in the 2(nd), 4(th), 6(th), 9(th), 12(th), 15(th) and 18(th) months were investigated. The data collection tool was a 3-part questionnaire which was validated using content validity. A part of data was completed based on the health file of the family.
Findings:
The mean of weight, height and head circumference in the months 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 15 in the three groups with normal, low and very low birth weights were significantly different. In the ages of 6, 15, 12 and 18 months, there was the highest frequency of horizontal trend in the growth pattern of children in the three groups. In the growth rate of neonates with low birth weight, there was the highest frequency of horizontal trend at the age of 12 months and there was the highest frequency of descending trend in the 15(th) months.
Conclusions:
The findings showed that according to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) percentiles, low and very low birth weight infants had lower growth in weight, length and head circumference compared to normal birth weight infants. Therefore, special attention should be given to healthcare and post-birth growth surveillance of these two groups to maintain and improve the health level of them.
