Related Experiment Videos
Low birthweight and impaired growth to 5 years in Australian aborigines
M Gracey1, C M Anderson, B Brooks
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth.
Insights
Aboriginal infants in Western Australia had a high rate of low birthweight (12%) and significant growth faltering after six months. Low birthweight babies experienced more severe growth retardation without substantial catch-up growth in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Indigenous Health
Background:
- Low birthweight is a significant concern in Aboriginal infant populations.
- The Kimberley region has a disproportionately high incidence of low birthweight among Aboriginal infants compared to non-Aboriginal infants in Western Australia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of low birthweight in Aboriginal infants in Western Australia.
- To examine growth patterns (weight and height) in Aboriginal children from birth to five years, differentiating between normal and low birthweight infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of birthweight data for Aboriginal infants born in the Kimberley region in 1980.
- Longitudinal monitoring of growth parameters (weight and height) in Aboriginal children up to five years of age.
Main Results:
- Twelve percent of Aboriginal infants in the Kimberley region were identified as low birthweight, more than double the rate in the non-Aboriginal Western Australian population.
- Widespread faltering of growth in weight and height was observed in Aboriginal children after six months of age, irrespective of birthweight.
- Growth retardation was more pronounced in low birthweight Aboriginal infants, with minimal evidence of catch-up growth during the first five years of life.
Conclusions:
- Aboriginal infants in the Kimberley region face a high risk of low birthweight and subsequent impaired growth.
- Early childhood growth faltering is a significant issue for Aboriginal children, particularly those born with low birthweight, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Abstract:
Twelve per cent of Aboriginal infants born in the Kimberley region of Western Australia in 1980 were of low birthweight; this is more than twice the incidence in the non-Aboriginal population of Western Australia. There was widespread faltering of growth (weight and height) after 6 months of age in Aboriginal children whether they were of normal or low birthweight. Growth retardation was more marked in low birthweight babies who showed little evidence of 'catch-up' growth in the first 5 years of life.