Feeding methods and weight evolution in newborns with congenital microcephaly due for Zika Virus

ABSTRACT

Purpose  Investigate the form of diet offer, according to the different feeding methods, and describe the weight gain in newborns with microcephaly related to Zika Virus, comparing them with newborns without microcephaly.

Methods  Retrospective cohort with nested case-control study. Information on gestational age, weight and feeding methods (maternal breast, nasogastric/orogastric tube, bottle and cup) were collected from medical records of 43 newborns with microcephaly due to Zika Virus, matched according to gestational age with 43 newborns without involvement (control group), in a reference maternity hospital in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected from birth to hospital discharge. Outcome measures were weights (at birth and at discharge), weight gain speed, length of hospital stay and feeding methods.

Results  The microcephaly group had lower weights at birth (D=-1.67; p<0.001), even more likely to be underweight (Phi=0.687; p<0.001), and at discharge (D=-0.87; p=0.006), than the control group. The microcephaly group also showed a higher rate of weight gain (D=0.77; p=0.006), although with eating methods similar to the control group, including acceptance of the mother’s breast, exclusively (34.9%) or complemented (58.1%).

Conclusion  Newborns with Zika Virus-related microcephaly used similar feeding methods, including maternal breast, to those in the non-affected group. As for weight, they showed lower values at birth and at discharge, despite having a faster postnatal early growth than those without microcephaly.

Keywords:  Zika Virus; Microcephaly; Newborn; Weight gain; Feeding methods