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Early growth faltering in rural Zimbabwean children

R J Moy1, I W Booth, R G Choto

  • 1Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, UK.

The Central African Journal of Medicine
|September 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Growth faltering is common in rural Zimbabwean children after six months, despite prolonged breastfeeding. Adverse environmental factors likely hinder children from reaching their full genetic growth potential.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Prolonged breastfeeding and early introduction of maize porridge are common feeding practices in rural Zimbabwe.
  • Previous studies indicate better growth outcomes in more privileged children within Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess child growth patterns in a deprived rural community in Zimbabwe.
  • To identify potential environmental factors influencing growth faltering.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study tracking weight and height from birth to 30 months.
  • Comparison with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference population.
  • Analysis of growth patterns without considering seasonal variations.

Main Results:

  • Early growth (first 6 months) met or exceeded NCHS standards.
  • Significant growth faltering observed after 6 months, with substantial weight and height deficits by 30 months.
  • No seasonal influence on growth patterns was detected.

Conclusions:

  • Adverse environmental factors in deprived rural settings impede children's growth.
  • Children in this community are not achieving their full genetic growth potential due to environmental constraints.
  • Interventions addressing environmental factors are crucial for improving child growth outcomes.

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