Comparing Growth and Development of Low and Normal Birth Weight Children at Age of 60 Months

Background: Low birth weight (LBW < 2500 g) is one of the most serious problems in today’s world. It is also a predictor for mortality and stunting. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the growth and development at the age of 60 months between children born with low and normal birth weight in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This study is part of the Fars birth cohort (FBC) study with the data of children who were born in 2011. We called mothers and asked them to bring their children to the FBC clinic for further evaluation. We also determined the level of development at the age of 60 months for each child by using the Ages and Stages questionnaire (ASQ) for the children. Results: Of the children, 304 (51.4%) were girls. Most of them had normal birth weight (93.2%), had exclusive breastfeeding for five to six months (79.9%), and did not have any chronic diseases (77.8%). Growth indices at the age of 60 months were significantly higher in children with normal birth weight than in their LBW peers (P < 0.001). However, we found no significant difference in children’s development at the age of 60 months between normal and low birth weight children. Conclusions: Although growth indices of children at the age of 60 months were higher in children with normal birth weight, we found no significant difference in children’s development at the age of 60 months between normal and low birth weight children.

Comparison of Motor Development in Preterm, and Term Children Aged 3 to 7 Years

Background: Human development is influenced by genetic, environmental, and social factors whose foundation is formed from infancy and childhood. Preterm birth and low birth weight are important issues that can affect the development and threaten the public health. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare motor development manipulation, balance, aiming, and receiving in low, very low birth weight, and normal children aged 3 to7 years. Methods: In this comparative study, 63 children were selected from among the preterm infants admitted to NICU ward. They were divided into three groups of (1) low birth weight children (mean 2066 ± 354 g) (n = 30), (2) very low birth weight children (mean 1325 ± 117 g) (n = 13), and (3) preterm twin children (mean 1781 ± 385 g) (n = 20).Also, 15 term children with an average weight (3345 ± 365 g) were selected. To evaluate the motor development of children, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Second Edition) (MABC-2) test was used. The results were analyzed by SPSS using one-way ANOVA test (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Low birthweight and very low birthweight children had poorer performance on manipulation, aiming, catching, and balance compared to normal children (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: VLBW children performed significantly poorer than LBW and Twin children on the subscales of posting coins, threading beads, drawing trail, one-leg balance, and walking heels raised.

Motor and cognitive outcomes of low birth weight neonates born in a limited resource country: a systematic review

Objective: To examine the outcomes of motor and cognitive development among neonates born with low birth weight (LBW) or very low birth weight (VLBW). Data sources: Systematic review carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science using the search strategy using combinations of the following keywords and terms: preterm birth OR prematurity OR premature Infants OR premature children AND low birth weight children OR very low birth weight children AND neurodevelopment OR cognitive development OR Motor development OR follow up AND humans. Articles searched were published from inception until July, 2019, and involved children born and evaluated in Brazil. The bias risk analysis was adapted from the STROBE scale, used to evaluate the methodology of the included studies. Data synthesis: The search identified 2,214 publications. After screening for titles and abstracts and removing duplicate entries, full texts of 38 articles were reviewed. After reading full texts, 24 articles met the inclusion criteria (articles in Portuguese and English), dated from 1998 to 2017). Endnote Version X9 software was used for data extraction. Two reviewers performed the literature search and study selection independently. Disagreements were solved by consensus or by a third reviewer. Results: it was evidenced an inferior motor development of children with LBW when compared to the control population, the standardized mean difference of [-1.15 (95% CI -1.56, -0.73), I2 80%], children with LBW have lower cognitive development according the standardized mean difference of [-0,71 (95% CI -0.99, -0.44) I2 67%]. Conclusion: Our review reinforces that impaired motor and cognitive outcome is a significant long-term outcome associated with LBW. The risk of impairment in those domains increases with decreasing gestational age. Keywords: Motor development; outcome; prematurity; preterm infants; systematic review.