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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Anthropometric status in Palestinian children living in refugee camps in Lebanon
Mouhanad Hammami1, Adnan Hammad, Winston W K Koo
1National Arab American Medical Association, USA. m.hammami@wayne.edu
Insights
Living conditions in refugee camps do not impact infant growth, but socioeconomic factors may hinder growth in older children. This study examined anthropometric measurements and living conditions in refugee children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Refugee populations face unique challenges impacting health and development.
- Understanding the link between living conditions and child growth is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between anthropometric measurements and living conditions in infants and children residing in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 33 infants and 234 children.
- Data collected included weight, height, and parent-reported information on socioeconomic status and dietary intake.
- Anthropometric measurements were standardized using National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) Z scores.
Main Results:
- Infants under two years showed no significant growth differences based on Z scores (WAZ, HAZ).
- Older children exhibited significantly lower Z scores for weight (WAZ), height (HAZ), and BMI (BMIZ).
- Positive correlations were found between infant growth and exclusive breastfeeding/financial aid; negative correlations with low meat/fruit consumption.
Conclusions:
- Socioeconomic factors and living conditions in refugee camps do not appear to affect infant growth.
- These conditions may contribute to growth deficits observed in older refugee children.
Objective:
To study the relationship between anthropometric measurements and living conditions in infants and children living in refugee camps.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Four Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
Subjects:
Thirty-three infants younger than two years of age and 234 children (106 males) younger than 15 years of age.
Methods:
Weight and height were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/length squared (m2). A parent of the subject answered a questionnaire on employment status, household size, food, and financial assistance as well as child's food consumption.
Results:
Anthropometric measurements were standardized to the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) growth data as age- and sex-specific Z scores. No significant difference was seen between males and females. For all sites studied, the Z scores for weight (WAZ) and height (HAZ) of infants were not significantly different from zero. Among older children, WAZ, HAZ, and Z scores for BMI (BMIZ) were significantly less than zero. In infants, exclusive breast feeding, in addition to receiving financial help, correlated positively while meat and fruit consumption of less than three times per week correlated negatively with WAZ and HAZ. In older children, a mixed relationship was seen among the number of children younger than 10 years of age in a household, the child's meat, vegetable, and fruit consumption less than three times per week, and WAZ and HAZ.
Conclusion:
Living conditions and socioeconomic restrictions on Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon do not appear to influence growth of infants younger than two years of age but may contribute to the growth deficit in older children.
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