title: Comparative Investigation of Indicators of Growth and Behavioral Disorders in Children with Normal, Low, and Very Low Birth Weight at Pre-school Age in Isfahan during 2015.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Birth weight is one of the most important indicators of infant's health and could predict their health condition in future. This study was conducted to determine and compare indicators of growth [weight, height, and body mass index (BMI)] and behavioral disorders in children with normal, low, and very low birth weight at pre-school age.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive analytical study, 236 children (126 with normal weight, 100 with low birth weight, and 10 with very low birth weight) at pre-school age were investigated in three groups. Data collection tools were a two-part questionnaire including the Rutter Children Behavior Questionnaire for parents, and parents' and children's demographic characteristics questionnaire, scale, and stadiometer. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, variance analysis, Chi square, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of weight, height, and BMI at pre-school age in three groups had a significant difference (P= 0.009) and it was lower in the group with very low birth weight than the other two groups; however, the difference between the group with normal birth weight and the group with low birth weight was not significant (P= 0.10). The mean score of behavioral disorder had no significant difference between groups (P= 0.49).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results showed that children with very low birth weight grew less than the other two groups. Therefore, this group needs special attention and long-term follow-up for taking care of them to ensure better growth. It is recommended to conduct more extended studies to evaluate behavioral disorders in these children.
authors.affiliation: Student Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdeyazdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Medical Education Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehsanpour
keywords: Child behavioral disorder; Iran; growth; low birth weight; very low birth weight