Medium-Term Outcome in a Cohort of Newborns with Low Birth Weight: A Prospective Study about 255 Case

Aim of the study: Analyze the factors involved in the growth, height and weight in a cohort of newborn low birth weight at 6 months. Methods: It's a prospective and analytic cohort study over 6 months. We recruited all patients with low weight whatever their feeding mode. To the output of the service a health card was given to them with their growth curve. They are then reviewed each month until the age of 6 months. At each consultation are taken anthropometric measurements (weight, height and cranial perimeter, the information on their feeding and potential morbidities). Results: Two hundred and fifty-five newborns of low birth weight were included. The mean birth weight was 1691.49 grams +/- 372.5. The average size was 53.27 cm +/- 8.2 and the average cranial perimeter of 39.47 cm +/- 4.4. Most children are from disadvantaged backgrounds. 76% of patients received parenteral nutrition for 1 month. The exclusive breastfeeding was observed in 14 % of cases. The preterm infants have achieved faster normal growth corridors to the age of 6 months compared to those with delayed intrauterine growth. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding are low in both groups and join the national data. The majority of our newborns come from a disadvantaged background. Morbidities are dominated by infection and anemia. Conclusion: Anthropometric parameters are better than those of the third world countries. The management of infants with delayed intrauterine growth is hardier. We need to accelerate the growth rate by a better nutritional care.