Evaluation of the Growth of full term Kermanian neonates in the first month of life

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the physical growth of healthy full-term neonates during the first month of life. for this porpuse 789 Kermanian healthy full-term singeltone infants were prospectively studied at birth,on the 10th and the 30th day of life for increase in weight(WT),crown heel lenght (CHL),head circumference(HC),chest circumference(CC), and mid arm circumference(MAC).at birth male babies had statistically significant higher values than female for Wt,CHL,HC, (p<0.001).duringg the first 10 days of life the mean (SD) gains in Wt,CHL,HC,CC and MAC were.166.6(137.7) gr 0.9(0.7),0.7(0.3),0.8(0.6) and 0.2(0.4) centimeter respectively.9.9% of neonates showed weight reduction this period.on the 30 th day of life the mean (SD) gain in weight was 736.6(264) gr and the mean (SD) increase in CHL,HC,CC, and MAC were 3.1(1.3),2.4(0.9),3.1(1.2) and 1.3(0.6) centimeter respectively.there was a significant association (p<0.001) between breast feeding and weight gain during the first 10 days of life.the study showed a significant correlation(p<0.001) between CHL,CC,HC and birthweight.the maximum correlation for CC was (r=0.77),CHL(r=0.73) and HC(r=0.70).multiple stepwise regression analysis showed a significant positive influence of gestational age,gender,maternal age,body mass index(BMI),type of delivery,and breast feeding on some of the anthropometric parameters on the 10th and/or the 30th day of life.percentiles of all anthropometric indices were compared with NCHS standards.the percentiles of Kermanian neonates have lower values than NCHS standards and this suggest,the need for developing national growth reference standards.