. Zahra Abdeyazdan; . Soheila Ehsanpour; . Elahe Hemmati
Volume 4, Issue 4 , August 2014, , Pages 1-4
Abstract
Introduction: Growth and development monitoring could lead to general judgment aboutchildren’s health. With advances in NICUs establishment, the survival rate of very low birthweight ...
Read More
Introduction: Growth and development monitoring could lead to general judgment aboutchildren’s health. With advances in NICUs establishment, the survival rate of very low birthweight (VLBW) neonates has increased in many countries including Iran. Because of the lack ofstudies about growth and development pattern of low birth weight (LBW) and VLBW neonatesin Iran, the present study aimed to compare growth and development of normal, low and verylow birth weight neonates at 18 months of age. Materials and Methods: In a cross‑ sectionaldescriptive study, 214 children with age 18 months were enrolled (90 LBW, 90 LBW and34 VLBW) and their growth and development were assessed. Data gathering tool was aresearcher made questionnaire including anthropometrics measures and developmental keypoints. Data analyzed by descriptive (mean and SD) and inferential (ANOVA) tests using SPSSversion 15. Results: There were significant differences in the mean of anthropometric indexesbetween 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 withbirth weight. Meanwhile, there was no significant association between mean scores of social/cognitive and also language developmental aspects and birth weight. Conclusion: Findingsrevealed that in LBW and VLBW children, growth indexes at the age of 18 months are so farfrom those of NBW neonates. Further nationwide prospective studies, with a longer period oftime is needed to estimate when Iranian LBW children reach at the levels of NBW ones.
