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The normal growth patterns of New Zealand preschool children
V M Binney1, A R Smith, G F Spears
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
Insights
This study updated New Zealand Growth Charts for children aged 0-5 years. New charts for height, weight, and head circumference were created, with separate versions for boys and girls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Anthropometry
- Child Development
Background:
- Accurate growth monitoring is crucial for early detection of developmental issues in children.
- Existing New Zealand Growth Charts required updating to reflect current pediatric populations.
- Standardized growth charts are essential tools for child health surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop updated New Zealand Growth Charts for preschool children (0-5 years).
- To establish current reference data for height, weight, and head circumference in this age group.
- To provide sex-specific growth charts due to observed measurement differences.
Main Methods:
- Collected anthropometric data (height, weight, head circumference) from 12,311 children.
- Data spanned ages from one month to five years.
- Constructed growth charts based on the collected measurements, creating separate charts for boys and girls.
Main Results:
- New Zealand Growth Charts for preschool children were successfully updated.
- Significant differences in measurements between boys and girls necessitated separate growth charts.
- The updated charts provide current reference data for child health surveillance.
Conclusions:
- The updated New Zealand Growth Charts are recommended for use by all healthcare professionals.
- These charts are vital for accurate child health surveillance in the 0-5 age group.
- Utilizing sex-specific charts ensures more precise growth assessment for individual children.
Abstract:
This study was designed to update New Zealand Growth Charts for preschool children. The heights, weights and head circumferences of 12,311 children aged one month to five years were recorded. From this data growth charts were constructed. Since significant differences were found between the measurements for boys and girls, separate graphs were constructed. We strongly advise that these graphs be used by all health professionals involved with child health surveillance of the 0-5 age group.