Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about the growth of VLBW infants in South Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the growth of a cohort of VLBW infants in Johannesburg.MethodsA secondary analysis of a prospective cohort was conducted on 139 VLBW infants (birth weight ≤1500 g) admitted to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Growth measurements were obtained from patient files and compared with the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) and with a previous cohort of South African VLBW infants. The sample size per analysis ranged from 11 to 81 infants.ResultsComparison with the WHO-CGS showed initial poor growth followed by gradual catch up growth with mean Z scores of 0.0 at 20 months postmenstrual age for weight, -0.8 at 20 months postmenstrual age for length and 0.0 at 3 months postmenstrual age for head circumference. Growth was comparable with that of a previous cohort of South African VLBW infants in all parameters.ConclusionsInitial poor growth in the study sample was followed by gradual catch up growth but with persistent deficits in length for age at 20 months postmenstrual age relative to healthy term infants.
Highlights
Little is known about the growth of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in South Africa
This study aims to compare the growth of a recent cohort of South African VLBW infants with references from healthy term infants in order to assess the rate and degree of catch up growth
4.0 Discussion In summary, the study sample showed a pattern of initial poor growth followed by gradual catch up growth relative to healthy term infants (WHO-CGS) [11]
Summary
Little is known about the growth of VLBW infants in South Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the growth of a cohort of VLBW infants in Johannesburg. The problem of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, with their attendant complications, is a significant one. Growth monitoring has been shown to be useful and cost effective as a tool in primary health care [3] and is of particular importance in a developing country such as South Africa where there are high rates of malnutrition and VLBW births [4]. Growth monitoring in VLBW infants is, complicated by several factors. VLBW infants are a heterogeneous group of varying birth weights, sex, gestational
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