title: Growth and survival of low birthweight infants from 0 to 9 years in a rural area of Ghana. Comparison of moderately low (1,501-2,000 g) and very low birthweight (1,000-1,500 g) infants and a local reference population.
abstract: This prospective and descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the growth and survival of 105 low birthweight (LBW, 1,000-2,000 g) infants discharged during a 4-year period from Agogo Hospital, Ghana, and followed from birth until the age of 4-9 years. Thirty-two babies were very low birthweight children (VLBW, 1,000-1,500 g) and 73 (70%) were of moderately low birthweight (MLBW, 1,501-2,000 g). At the age of 3 years, 15 children (14.2%) had not come for follow-up; of the remaining 90 children, nine (10%) had died, five during the first 3 months of life. At follow-up from 4 to 9 years of age, two more children could not be traced and another two had died. Compared to a local reference population and the WHO standard, growth of survivors lagged behind and caught up only slightly during the first 3 years of life. From 3 to 9 years of age, median growth impairment increased, which either suggests impaired growth potential or poor health and inadequate nutrition. This long-term study confirms that LBW (1,000-2,000 g) infants, particularly VLBW children, are at high risk.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, Agogo Hospital, Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Mei
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volmer
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Boersma
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015430:Weight Gain