A statistical Observation on Growth Pattern of Low birth Weight infants

ABSTRACT

The author have statistically observed growth pattern of LBW infants born at NMC obstetric ward for 4 years form Jan. 1972 rtrough Dec, 1975. LBW infants were divided ino 2 groups, preterm and small-for-date infants and compared with normal full-term delivered infants group for height and weight. Following results were obtained 1) As compared with NFD infants group, preterm infants group revealed ststistically meaningful difference in height and weight until 5-6 months of age. Thereafter no difference was noticed. But, SFD group showed difference in height and weight until 1 year of age. 2) Preterm infants group was found to have a greater growth velocity than SFD group in 4-7 months of age, SFD group showed relatively similar increment of height and weight with NFD group. 3) Mean heght and weight of LBW infants were below NFD gronp until 1 year of age. Growth velocity ws similar with NFD group, so handicaps of LBW infants were not overcome statistically during 1 year after birth.