RESUMEN
Low birth weight [LBW, birth weight< 2500 g] is a significant health problem of children. Many studies have made it apparent that there is a direct relationship between low birth weight and infant mortality. One of the most important measurements to prevent children morbility is growth monitoring. The present study was set up to compare the growth of children born with low weight with those with weight of 2500 g and more at birth [normal birth weight, NBW] during 2 years after birth. This research is a retrospective Cohort study. The samples included 218 two-years-old Children. Selection criteria for the LBW and NBW infants were factors such as having birth weight< 2500 g in LBW group and 2500-4000 in NBW group, absence of congential anomalies and born from singleton pregnancies act. Needed data were were collected through a questionnaire by the researcher. Statistical analysis was carried out by t-test and the chi square test. Our findings revealed that the group of LBW children hand a statistically significant lower body weight, shorter stature, smaller head circumference and lower weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height indexes upto two years compared to the group of NBW children. Moreover, the weight percentile of LBW children at 2 years off age was less than the NBW group. The data suggest that low birth weight adversely affect children's growth in their early life. Therefore, LBW infants require special considerations about growth follow up and monitoring after birth