Assessment Of Growth In Infants Research Articles

Defining Body Mass Index Using Weight and Length for Gestational Age in the Growth Assessment of Preterm Infants at Birth.

The objectives of this study were to describe (1) body mass indexes (BMIs) using weight and length for gestational age (GA) classifications, and (2) the additional information BMI, as a measure of body proportionality, provides for preterm infant growth assessment and care plans at birth. Birth weight, length, and BMI of 188,646 preterm infants (24-36 weeks gestation) admitted to U.S. neonatal intensive care units (Pediatrix Clinical Data Warehouse, 2013-2018) were classified (Olsen curves) as small, appropriate, or large for GA (SGA < 10th, AGA 10-90th, LGA > 90th percentile for GA, respectively). The distribution for the 27 weight-length-BMI combinations was described. At birth, most infants were appropriate for weight (80.0%), length (82.2%), head circumference (82.9%), and BMI (79.9%) for GA. Birth weight for GA identified approximately 20% of infants as SGA or LGA. Infants born SGA (or LGA) for both weight and length ("proportionate" in size) were usually appropriate for BMI (59.0% and 75.6%). BMI distinguished disproportionate weight for length in infants with SGA or LGA weight at birth (58.3%, 49.9%). BMI also identified 11.4% of AGA weight infants as small or large for BMI ("disproportionate" in size) at birth; only using weight for GA missed these underweight/overweight for length infants. The unique, additional information provided by birth BMI further informs individualized preterm infant growth assessment by providing an assessment of an infant's body proportionality (weight relative to its length) in addition to the routine assessment of weight, length, and head circumference for GA and may better inform care plans and impact outcomes. · Most preterm infants were born AGA for all growth measures.. · AGA weight infants may be under- or overweight for length.. · BMI distinguished body disproportionality in SGA/LGA infants.. · Recommend BMI assessed along with weight, length and head.. · Further research on BMI in preterm infants is needed..

Development and Implementation of an Integrated Framework for Undergraduate Pharmacy Training in Maternal and Child Health at a South African University.

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) regulates undergraduate pharmacy education and pharmacy practice. The SAPC Good Pharmacy Practice manual describes the role of pharmacists in maternal and child health (MCH) in line with the recommendation of international health regulatory bodies. However, baseline study findings in 2017 supported literature from around the world that indicated a need for curriculum review and integration to address the knowledge and skills gap in pharmacists’ MCH training. This paper describes the development and implementation of an integrated framework for MCH training across the four years of a Bachelor of Pharmacy program. The intervention included didactic lectures, skills practical on infant growth assessment, and an experiential learning component at primary health care clinics and pharmacies. Knowledge and skills assessment on contraception, maternal and antenatal care, and neonatal and child care were carried out pre, eight weeks post, and two years post intervention using the same questionnaire. ANOVA and post hoc analyses showed that participants’ knowledge and skills increased post intervention but decreased significantly two years later except in contraception where students experienced longitudinal integration of the MCH component. Generally, participants performed above the university average except in maternal and antenatal care.

Evaluating pharmacy students\u2019 knowledge and skills in reproductive, maternal, new-born and child health care at a South African university

BackgroundMaternal and child mortality is a global concern and one of South Africa’s quadruple burdens of disease. As easily accessible frontline healthcare workers, pharmacists play an important role in the continuum of maternal and child health (MCH) care according to recommendations by international health regulatory bodies. Pharmacy schools are obliged to train pharmacy students to meet the priority health needs of the population so that graduates are ‘fit for purpose’. The baseline study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and skills of 2017 final year pharmacy students who were exposed to a fragmented MCH care curriculum at a university in South Africa to inform curriculum review.MethodsA descriptive, quantitative, non-randomized study was conducted among final year pharmacy students using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed in sections to assess participants’ knowledge of reproductive and sexual health (RSH), maternal and antenatal care (MAC), neonatal and child care (NCC) and skills related to infant growth assessment procedures. Data was analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. A score of 50% in each section of the questionnaire indicated a pass. Participants assessed their exposure to MCH topics in the curriculum.ResultsOf the 89 available students, 61% consented to participate in the study. The average scores attained for each section were; 62.4% for RSH, 54.5% for MAC, 50.4% for NCC and 25.3% for infant growth assessment. The pass rate was 78% for RSH, 56% for MAC, 57% for NCC, and 19% for infant growth assessment. About 13% of the participants passed all the knowledge and the skills sections. Age, gender, being a parent or doing locums did not have any influence on participants’ performance. Participants reported that they had more on-campus curriculum content exposure to RSH compared to other MCH care topics.ConclusionFinal year pharmacy students showed adequate knowledge of RSH with adequate curriculum exposure. Average knowledge of MAC, NCC and poor skills in infant growth assessment which corresponded to curriculum exposure was observed. The results suggest the need for improvement in the current curriculum in the affected areas to adequately equip students to render desirable services.

A holistic approach to infant growth assessment considers clinical, social and genetic factors rather than an assessment of weight at a set timepoint

A holistic approach to infant growth assessment considers clinical, social and genetic factors rather than an assessment of weight at a set timepoint

How to carry out growth assessment in infants and children under two years old.

Rationale and key points Measuring and monitoring growth in infants and young children under two years old is an important part of their clinical assessment in hospital and the community. This article outlines the procedure for measuring growth in infants and children under two years old, and discusses the main factors to consider when undertaking this assessment. » The procedures and some of the data used to monitor the growth of infants and children under two years old differs from those used in older children. » Obtaining growth information for an infant or child involves measuring and recording their length, weight and head circumference. The process of obtaining this information is not necessarily straightforward and errors may occur while measuring and plotting or interpreting data. » Correct use of growth measuring equipment and growth charts is essential to obtain accurate results. Nurses should be able to plot weight, length and head circumference data for infants and children under two years old, and to correctly interpret this data to identify malnutrition and faltering growth. Reflective activity 'How to' articles can help you update your practice and ensure it remains evidence-based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: 1. How you think this article will change your practice when you assess growth in infants and children under two years old. 2. What practical experience you require to consolidate your learning, having read this article. 3. Any learning needs that you have identified that would increase your clinical effectiveness and professional development.

Retrospective assessment of growth in infants exposed to HIV in utero

The objective of the study was to evaluate growth in uninfected infants exposed to HIV.This retrospective study was approved by the UF Institutional Review Board. Infants exposed to HIV enrolled from 1997 to 2009 in the UF Pediatric Immunology Program (n=198) were stratified into 5 age groups ranging from birth to 24 months in age. An average height, weight, and BMI z‐score were calculated and compared to the 2000 CDC growth charts and WHO growth charts reference populations. The student's t test was conducted using the Palaside StatTools Program and SAS 9.2.The table below compares mean z‐scores of the exposed infant population to the mean z‐scores of the reference population. Height and weight z‐scores of this infant population are both below that of the reference population, but demonstrate different patterns of change during the first 24 months of life.Linear growth is stunted in infants exposed to HIV in utero. The BMI z‐score of this infant population is significantly larger than the reference population mean after 4 months of age. The growth of exposed infants should be followed more carefully and for a longer period of time. Height Weight BMI Birth −0.698** −0.961** −0.683** 0–3 Months −1.121** −0.781** −0.382** 4–6 Months −0.581** −0.173 0.209* 7–12 Months −0.326** −0.303* 0.333* 13–24 Months −0.233* −0.323** 0.771** p&lt;0.05 p&lt;0.01

Birth Weight and Infant Growth: Optimal Infant Weight Gain versus Optimal Infant Weight

Infant growth assessment often focuses on "optimal" infant weights and lengths at specific ages, while de-emphasizing infant weight gain. Objective of this study was to examine infant growth patterns by measuring infant weight gain relative to birth weight. We conducted this study based on data collected in a prospective cohort study including 3,302 births with follow up examinations of infants between the ages of 8 and 18 months. All infants were participants in the Louisiana State Women, Infant and Children Supplemental Food Program between 1999 and 2001. Growth was assessed by infant weight gain percentage (IWG%, defined as infant weight gain divided by birth weight) as well as by mean z-scores and percentiles for weight-for-age, length-for-age, and weight-for-length calculated based on growth charts published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). An inverse relationship was noted between birth weight category and IWG% (from 613.9% for infants with birth weights <1500 g to 151.3% for infants with birth weights of 4000 g or more). In contrast, low birth weight infants had lower weight-for-age, weight-for-length z-scores and percentiles compared to normal birth weight infants according to CDC growth charts. Although low birth weight infants had lower anthropometric measures compared to a national reference population, they had significant catch-up growth; High birth weight infants had significant slow-down growth. We suggest that growth assessments should compare infants' anthropometric data to their own previous growth measures as well as to a reference population. Further studies are needed to identify optimal ranges of infant weight gain.

Growth Assessment in Infants and Toddlers Using Three Different Reference Charts

To determine if the proportion of children < or =24 months old in a tertiary care facility defined as at risk of undernutrition or overnutrition differs according to different references used for assessment: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) or Tanner-Whitehouse (Tanner) growth charts for weight-for-age and length-for-age. Lengths and weights were measured on infants (207 female, 341 male) aged < or =24 months admitted from or attending clinics in the General Pediatric or Respiratory Medicine Programs at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Weight-for-age and length-for-age percentiles and percent ideal body weight were electronically computed. The proportion of all children whose weight-for-age was <3rd percentile (at risk of undernutrition) was greatest using the CDC growth charts (22.5%) compared with the NCHS (15.9%) or Tanner (19.2%) growth charts. Likewise, the proportion of all infants/toddlers with percent ideal body weight <90 (at risk of undernutrition) was greatest using the CDC (32.3%) compared with the NCHS (22.1%) or Tanner (25.9%) growth charts. In contrast, the percentage of children whose percent ideal body weight was > or =110% (at risk of overnutrition) was least using the CDC (18.1%) compared with the NCHS (26.1%) or Tanner (22.4%) growth charts. More children aged < or =24 months will be defined as at risk of undernutrition and fewer at risk of overnutrition when using weight-for-age or percent ideal body weight and the CDC growth charts compared with the NCHS or Tanner growth charts. As a result, requests for a more detailed nutritional assessment for undernutrition will likely follow implementation of the CDC growth charts in a tertiary care setting. As the CDC, NCHS and Tanner growth charts are growth "references" rather than "standards," other than for screening purposes, they should not be used in isolation when assessing growth and nutritional status.

Introduction—Assessment of growth in infants and children: Normal and abnormal patterns

Introduction—Assessment of growth in infants and children: Normal and abnormal patterns