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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Socioeconomic status, anthropometric status, and psychomotor development of Kenyan children from resource-limited
Amina Abubakar1, Fons Van de Vijver, Anneloes Van Baar
1Centre for Geographic Medicine Research-Coast, KEMRI/ Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya. A.AbubakarAli@uvt.nl
Background:
Sub-optimal physical growth has been suggested as a key pathway between the effect of environmental risk and developmental outcome.
Aim:
To determine if anthropometric status mediates the relation between socioeconomic status and psychomotor development of young children in resource-limited settings.
Study Design:
A cross-sectional study design was used.
Subjects:
A total of 204 (105 girls) children from two resource-limited communities in the Coast Province, Kenya. The mean age of these children was 29 months (SD = 3.43; range: 24-35 months).
Outcome Measure:
Psychomotor functioning was assessed using a locally developed and validated measure, the Kilifi Developmental Inventory.
Results:
A significant association was found between anthropometric status (as measured by weight-for-age, height-for-age, mid-upper arm circumference, and head circumference) and psychomotor functioning and also between socioeconomic status and anthropometric status; no direct effects were found between socioeconomic status and developmental outcome. The models showed that weight, height and to a lesser extent mid-upper arm circumference mediate the relation between socioeconomic status and developmental outcome, while head circumference did not show the same effect.
Conclusion:
Among children under 3 years living in poverty, anthropometric status shows a clear association with psychomotor development while socioeconomic status may only have an indirect association.
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