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Height and weight development of low-birth-weight infants at 9 months
Modou Gueye1, Amadou Sow1, Djibril Boiro1
1Abass Ndao Hospital Center, Dakar, Senegal.
Insights
Low birth weight (LBW) infants in Senegal showed normal height and weight growth by 9 months corrected age. However, 27% experienced developmental delays in psychomotor areas.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW), defined as <2500g, affects infant development globally.
- Understanding LBW infant growth trajectories is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the height and weight development of LBW infants up to 9 months corrected age (CA) in Senegal.
- To identify growth patterns and potential developmental issues in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, descriptive, and analytical cohort study of LBW infants from August 2019 to May 2020.
- Utilized World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts for monitoring height and weight.
- Follow-up extended to 9 months corrected age.
Main Results:
- 136 LBW infants (mean gestational age 32 weeks) were included.
- At 9 months CA, mean weight was 8119g and mean height was 74cm.
- 84% showed satisfactory weight growth and 89% satisfactory height growth.
Conclusions:
- LBW infants in Senegal achieved normal height and weight by 9 months corrected age.
- A significant proportion (27%) exhibited psychomotor developmental delays.
- Further research into developmental outcomes and interventions is warranted.
Background:
Low birth weight (LBW) is defined as a birth weight <2500 g at birth, regardless of the term of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the height and weight development of LBW infants from 0 to 9 months of corrected age (CA) in Senegal.
Method:
This was a prospective, descriptive, and analytical cohort follow-up of up to 9 months of CA including all live newborns of LBW hospitalized and followed up from 1 August 2019 to 31 May 2020. World Health Organization growth charts were used to assess height and weight growth.
Results:
During the study, 136 LBW newborns were included. The mean gestational age was 32 weeks of amenorrhea. At discharge, 46 children (33.82%) were exclusively breastfed. At birth, the mean weight was 1487 g (3rd-10th percentile) and the mean height was 41.52 cm (10th-25th percentile). At 9 months of CA, the mean weight was 8119 g (median) and the mean height was 74 cm (median). The children had achieved satisfactory growth in weight (84%) and height (89%). At 9 months of CA, 27% of the children were behind in one of the four areas of psychomotor development.
Conclusion:
At the end of 9 months of CA, height and weight were normal.
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