title: Evaluation of growth and development pattern in normal, low and very low birth weight neonates at 18 months of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdeyazdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehsanpour
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Elahe
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hemmati
keywords: Children; development; growth; low birth weight; very low birth weight