Effects of the relative importance of different factors and their degree of interactions on child growth

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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

F Y Zumrawi1

  • 1Department of Home-Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|June 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked infant growth in Khartoum Province, finding that factors like hygiene and maternal health influenced early weight gain. Later growth was affected by income, feeding practices, and infections, highlighting key areas for child health interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition

Background:

  • Infant growth and development are critical indicators of child health.
  • Understanding factors influencing satisfactory breastfeeding duration and child growth is essential for public health initiatives.
  • Maternal and Child Health Centres play a vital role in monitoring infant well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the duration of satisfactory breastfeeding in healthy, breastfed infants in Khartoum Province.
  • To compare infant growth patterns and identify factors affecting weight gain.
  • To analyze the impact of various socioeconomic and environmental factors on infant development.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study measuring infant weight and length from birth up to one year.
  • Weight measured bi-weekly, length measured monthly.
  • Analysis of weight gain in relation to various influencing factors.

Main Results:

  • Infant weight gain varied across different towns within Khartoum Province.
  • Early growth (0-3 months) in Khartoum and Omdurman exceeded NCHS standards, but slowed significantly between 3-6 months.
  • Factors affecting weight gain differed in the 0-3 month and 3-6 month periods, including hygiene, maternal health, sex, housing, income, feeding practices, occupation, water access, infections, and town of residence.

Conclusions:

  • Early infant growth is influenced by factors such as hygiene, maternal health, and infant sex.
  • Later infant growth (3-6 months) is significantly impacted by socioeconomic factors like income, supplementary feeding, and environmental conditions.
  • Targeted interventions addressing these identified factors are crucial for optimizing infant growth and health outcomes in Khartoum Province.

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