Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract Introduction: Growth and development monitoring could lead to general judgment about
children’s health. With advances in NICUs establishment, the survival rate of very low birth
weight (VLBW) neonates has increased in many countries including Iran. Because of the lack of
studies about growth and development pattern of low birth weight (LBW) and VLBW neonates
in Iran, the present study aimed to compare growth and development of normal, low and very
low birth weight neonates at 18 months of age. Materials and Methods: In a cross‑ sectional
descriptive study, 214 children with age 18 months were enrolled (90 LBW, 90 LBW and
34 VLBW) and their growth and development were assessed. Data gathering tool was a
researcher made questionnaire including anthropometrics measures and developmental key
points. Data analyzed by descriptive (mean and SD) and inferential (ANOVA) tests using SPSS
version 15. Results: There were significant differences in the mean of anthropometric indexes
between three groups. Majority of subjects in three groups had normal weight growth trend.
Mean scores of gross motor and fine motor development indexes had significant association with
birth weight. Meanwhile, there was no significant association between mean scores of social/
cognitive and also language developmental aspects and birth weight. Conclusion: Findings
revealed that in LBW and VLBW children, growth indexes at the age of 18 months are so far
from those of NBW neonates. Further nationwide prospective studies, with a longer period of
time is needed to estimate when Iranian LBW children reach at the levels of NBW ones.

Abstract Background: Infection control is an essential part of caring for hospitalized infants. With
regard to the change of bacterial resistance over time and places, as well as the need for
periodic studies on the effectiveness of antiseptics, this study aims to compare the effects of
both solutions of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine on skin bacterial flora among hospitalized
infants. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial recruited 98 hospitalized infants and each of
the above-mentioned solutions has been applied to a small area in the left or right side of the
infants’ bodies. Skin cultures were taken before, immediately after and 2 h after the randomly
chosen infants’ skin areas that were disinfected by each solution (588 skin cultures in total).
Colony count and determination of microorganism types were done by only one person in a
single laboratory. The study has been conducted in two teaching hospitals in Isfahan, Iran.
Results: Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common microorganism prior to skin
disinfection by either solution. Two hours after disinfection, “Staphylococcus epidermidis” and
“Staphylococcus epidermidis and kelebsila” had the highest frequencies of 3.1% and 3.1%,
respectively. Before and 2 h after disinfection, distribution of different types of microorganisms
had no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.84 and 0.13, respectively); however,
the difference was significant immediately after disinfection, P < 0.01. Conclusion: The present
study demonstrated that 10% povidone-iodine solution has more significant effect on reduction
of skin pathogens promptly after application compared to 2% chlorhexidine. Therefore, prior
to any catheterization procedures, it is imperative to use 10% povidone-iodine solutions for
skin disinfection.