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Factors influencing linear growth in Saudi Arabian children aged 6-24 months

I M al-Fawaz1, E A Bamgboye, Y A al-Eissa

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|August 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Growth faltering in Saudi children is linked to age, sex, bottle feeding, and solid food type. Stunting affects 18% of children, highlighting the need for nutritional education programs.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Childhood growth patterns are crucial indicators of overall health and development.
  • Understanding factors influencing early childhood growth is vital for public health interventions.
  • Nutritional status in the first two years of life significantly impacts long-term health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors affecting the growth patterns of Saudi children during their first two years.
  • To assess the prevalence of stunting and wasting in a cohort of Saudi infants.
  • To analyze the relationship between various personal and nutritional variables and growth indicators.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 400 healthy Saudi infants attending a well-baby clinic.
  • Measurement of body length and weight at different ages.
  • Calculation of nutritional indicators (height-for-age, weight-for-height, weight-for-age) and comparison with reference data.
  • Univariate and multivariate analysis to identify significant risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence of wasting was 2%, while stunting affected 18% of the children.
  • Significant risk factors for stunted growth included older age, male sex, bottle feeding, and type of solid foods introduced.
  • Growth faltering was observed to increase with age, with males exhibiting poorer growth patterns than females.

Conclusions:

  • Age, sex, feeding practices, and diet composition are significant determinants of growth in young Saudi children.
  • The study suggests genetic factors and suboptimal feeding practices contribute to faltering growth.
  • A public health education program focused on good nutrition is strongly recommended to address these growth concerns.

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