The growth rate in children before and after supplementary diet

Physical growth is influenced by different factors including genetics, environment and nutrition. This study aimed to recognize the factors may affect children''s growth at the beginning of supplementary diet. This longitudinal-analytical study surveyed 75 randomly selected babies less than 8 month of age under the supervision of Felaverjan Health Center and their mothers in 2005. The data were collected by a questionnaire composed of three sections; babies'' demographic and caring characteristics, mothers'' demographic characteristics, and babies'' weight in 5th and 7th months of age as well as some questions about mothers'' takeing care of their babies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, and Pearson correlation coefficient tests in SPSS software. 36% of the babies were girls and 64% were boys. 52% of babies were the first child. The mean birth weight was 3021.6 ± 046.7 g. The mean age of mothers was 25.5 ± 6.3 years; 65.3% of mothers had primary school education and about 50% were economically well-off. However, the results showed no significant relation between mothers'' demographic characteristics and babies'' growth pattern. It was a significant direct relation between growth pattern and the weight of babies at the time of supplementary diet (p = 0.03) and birth weight (p = 0.001). Also It was a significant relation between growth pattern and mothers'' care of babies (p = 0.048). Elements of birth weight, weight before and after supplementary diet, and mothers'' care of babies are important factors in the babies'' growth after taking supplements.