Objectives. The aim of the study was to describe post-natal growth during a 2-year follow-up in a cohort of infants born at term but small for gestational age (SGA). Methods. This was a prospective study in infants with gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks amenorrhea with a birth weight below the 10^th percentile. Height, weight and head perimeter were measured from birth to two years. Results: The prevalence of term SGA infants was 3.9% during the enrollment period (from 1 December 2012 to 31 March 2014). Of these 457 infants, 446 (97.6%) were followed up to 2 years of age. Children with height, weight and head perimeter measurements at 24 months ≥ ‑2 standard deviation score (SDS) were 87.9%, 96.4% and 97.1%, respectively. (i.e., 12.1% had persistent growth retardation for at least one parameter). In a multivariate analysis, the independent predictors of catch-up growth at 24 months were associated with maternal height, target height and its difference with birth height, history of SGA, breast feeding duration, ponderal index and height gain at 6 months. Conclusion: This study provides data concerning the epidemiology of SGA births in Algeria and the factors associated with post-natal growth. These results are in favor of setting up a national program, integrating obstetricians and pediatricians for a joint action for the ante- and postnatal follow-up of SGA infants.  

Index terms: Small for gestational age; Intra-uterine growth retardation; Postnatal growth; Catch-up growth; Short