5 research outputs found
Growth and neurodevelopment in low birth weight versus normal birth weight infants from birth to 24 months, born in an obstetric emergency hospital in Haiti, a prospective cohort study
Background
Low birthweight (LBW) infants are at higher risk of mortality and morbidity (growth, chronic disease and neurological problems) during their life. Due to the high incidence of (pre-) eclampsia in Haiti, LBW infants are common. We assessed the anthropometric growth (weight and length) and neurodevelopmental delay in LBW and normal birthweight (NBW) infants born at an obstetric emergency hospital in Port au Prince, Haiti, between 2014 and 2017.
Methods
Infants were followed at discharge and 3, 6, 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24âmonths of corrected gestational age. At each visit they underwent a physical checkup (weight, length, physical abnormalities, identification of morbidities). At 6, 12, 18 and 24âmonths they underwent a neurodevelopmental assessment using the Bayley Scale III (motor, cognitive and communication skills). We modelled the trajectories between birth and 24âmonths of age of NBW compared to LBW infants for weight, length, and raw scores for Bayley III assessments using mixed linear models.
Results
In total 500 LBW and 210 NBW infants were recruited of which 333 (46.7%) were followed up for 24âmonths (127 NBW; 60.5% and 206 LBW; 41.2%) and 150 died (LBWâ=â137 and NBWâ=â13). LBW and NBW babies gained a mean 15.8âg and 11.4âg per kg of weight from discharge per day respectively. The speed of weight gain decreased rapidly after 3âmonths in both groups. Both groups grow rapidly up to 6âmonths of age. LBW grew more than the NBW group during this period (22.8âcm vs. 21.1âcm). Both groups had WHZ scores <ââ2 up to 15âmonths. At 24âmonths NBW babies scored significantly higher on the Bayley scales for gross motor, cognitive and receptive and expressive communication skills. There was no difference between the groups for fine motor skills.
Conclusion
LBW babies that survive neonatal care in urban Haiti and live up to 24âmonths of age, perform similar to their NBW for weight, length and fine motor skills. LBW babies are delayed in gross motor, cognitive and communication skills development. Further research on the clinical significance of these findings and long term implications of this neurodevelopmental delay is needed