Interrelations between growth, weaning and disease experience in Khartoum infants
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G A Harrison1, G Brush, F Y Zumrawi
1Institute of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford, U.K.
Insights
Infant growth characteristics influence weaning age and illness. Early weaning in longer infants leads to more illness and slower growth, though environmental factors are key. Late weaning promotes weight gain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Health
- Infant Growth and Development
Background:
- Infant growth patterns are crucial for development.
- Understanding factors influencing infant feeding practices is essential for public health.
- Early childhood illness impacts long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between infant growth characteristics (body weight and supine length) and the timing of weaning.
- To determine the impact of growth characteristics and weaning practices on infant illness experience.
- To explore the influence of environmental factors on infant weaning age.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 203 infants in Khartoum from birth to 1 year.
- Monthly measurements of body weight and supine length.
- Statistical analysis, including multivariate analysis, to assess correlations.
Main Results:
- Neonates who are long for their age tend to be weaned earlier.
- Early weaning is associated with increased average monthly illness experience and slower subsequent growth.
- Environmental variables, not length growth, primarily determine weaning age.
- Late weaning, independent of illness, promotes post-natal weight growth.
Conclusions:
- Infant growth characteristics and environmental factors interact to influence weaning timing.
- Weaning practices significantly impact infant health and growth trajectories.
- Further research into environmental determinants of infant feeding is warranted.
Abstract:
The monthly measurements of body weight and supine length from birth to 1 year of 203 infants in Khartoum were analysed to see whether growth characteristics affected the timing of weaning and the amount of illness experience. The study clearly shows that neonates who are long for their age tend to be weaned early, and this causes them to experience a greater average monthly 'illness experience' and slower subsequent growth. However, a multivariate analysis indicates that it is correlated environmental variables rather than length growth itself which primarily determines weaning age. Weight growth does not show these relationships but there is strong evidence that late weaning, independently of disease experience, promotes post-natal weight growth.