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Growth and development of West Indian children. Part I: Growth
Insights
Caribbean infant growth initially mirrors NCHS standards but declines after three months, similar to other developing nations. More recent, longitudinal data is needed to track secular changes in child growth patterns.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Human Growth and Development
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Caribbean infant growth initially aligns with National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) standards.
- Growth rates tend to decelerate after approximately three months of age.
- This growth pattern resembles trends observed in other developing countries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze existing data on Caribbean child growth patterns.
- To identify trends and potential deviations from established growth standards.
- To highlight the need for updated, longitudinal growth studies in the region.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical growth data, primarily from the 1960s and 1970s.
- Analysis of available longitudinal studies, focusing on the first year of life and up to four years.
- Comparison of growth data with NCHS standards and findings from other regional studies.
Main Results:
- Caribbean infants show comparable growth to NCHS standards until three months, despite lower birthweights.
- By 18 months, Jamaican children's average height and weight approach the 10th NCHS percentile.
- Growth remains below the 40th percentile throughout childhood, with regional variations in undernutrition and obesity noted in more recent surveys.
Conclusions:
- A decline in growth rates after three months is a consistent pattern.
- Existing data, largely from the mid-20th century, suggests secular changes may be occurring.
- There is a critical need for contemporary, longitudinal studies to accurately assess current Caribbean child growth patterns and nutritional status.
Abstract:
The growth of Caribbean infants is comparable to the NCHS standards until approximately 3 months of age despite somewhat lower birthweights. After this, growth rates decline. This pattern is similar to that seen in other developing countries (Condon-Paolini et al, 1977; Whitehead, 1979; Rowland et al, 1988). By 18 months of age, average weights and heights of Jamaican children approached the 10th centile of the NCHS standards and remained below the 40th centile throughout childhood. Ashcroft's studies of growth in childhood showed that the pattern of growth was similar in a number of countries in the Region but, in more recent nutritional surveys, differences between countries can be detected. For example, the prevalence of undernutrition is lower in Barbados but conversely obesity, especially in older girls, is becoming a significant problem. Most of the growth data on which this review is based was collected in the 1960s and early 1970s. Only a few studies provided longitudinal data. These were primarily those concerned with growth in the first year of life and the Lawrence Tavern study in which children were measured up to 4 years of age. There is clearly a need for more recent data, particularly longitudinal, since the available data suggest that secular changes are occurring. Surveys of nutritional status provide some information on the adequacy of growth but cannot be a substitute for measurements of normal growth patterns.
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