Title: Catch-up Growth of Low Birth Weight Infants: A Study Among the Infants Born in the Backward Areas of Howrah
Abstract: <i>Background:</i> Babies having low birth weight are comparatively more susceptible to infection and are unable to grow to their full potential of physical and mental development. This often lead to high infant morbidity and mortality. Hence, it becomes important to identify the low birth weight infants and offer them adequate care. This study was carried in the District of Howrah. This study was conductedmong 732 LBW survivors and 314 NBW controls from birth to nine months of age. Their growth trends (weight, length, head and chest circumferences) were followed and compared. <i>Objectives:</i> The physical growth pattern of low birth weight and normal birth weight babies under study were compared, relative influence of certain variables on the catch up growth of LBW infants were to be determined and the catch up growth in terms of increments in Height, Length, Weight, Head and Chest Circumferences were analyzed. <i>Results:</i> The catch-up growth among the LBW infants in almost all the anthropometric measurements were of lower values as compared to their NBW counterparts. However the increments in growth were seen to be higher in different months of age for different measurements. The catch-up growth was contributed by gestational age, birth weight, birth length, birth head and chest circumferences. Regarding catch-up growth, length, head circumference and chest circumference were the parameters to start up early as in the 1<sup>st</sup> month in case of chest circumference followed by length and head circumference in the 2<sup>nd</sup> month of age. Weight was quite late as much as 4<sup>th</sup> month. LBW babies were much closer to their NBW counterparts in the 6<sup>th</sup> month in all the parameters under this study.