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A quantitative study into the role of infection in determining nutritional status in Gambian village children
Insights
Child growth in rural Gambia is significantly impacted by gastroenteritis and malaria. Reducing these diseases could allow for catch-up growth in children over one year old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutrition
Background:
- Childhood growth faltering is a significant issue in developing regions.
- Assessing the impact of disease on growth is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate child growth patterns in a rural Gambian village.
- To quantify the relationship between disease prevalence and growth faltering.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 152 children aged 0-3 years.
- Analysis of weight-for-age and height-for-age against established standards.
- Multiple regression to assess disease impact on growth parameters.
Main Results:
- By age 1, children's average weight-for-age was 75% of the standard.
- Gastroenteritis showed a significant negative correlation with both weight and height gain.
- Malaria was negatively associated with weight gain.
- Absence of gastroenteritis could allow for catch-up growth after age 1, barring peak rainy months.
Conclusions:
- Gastroenteritis is a primary driver of growth faltering in this population.
- Malaria also contributes to reduced weight gain.
- Anthropometry alone has limitations in assessing dietary adequacy in community settings.
Abstract:
1. Growth in weight and height in 152 children between the ages of 0-6 and 3 years was investigated in Keneba, a rural Gambian village. By 1 year of age the average weight-for-age of the children was only 75% of the Jelliffe (1966) standard. 2. The relationship between the prevalence of nine different categories of diseases and growth was investigated to determine the quantitative contribution of the diseases to the growth faltering observed. There was a highly significant negative relationship between gastroenteritis and both weight gain and height gain. The only other disease category having a similar relationship was malaria, but in this instance only with weight gain. 3. Although over-all growth in weight and height was considerably below the standard values, multiple regression analysis indicated that after the age of 1 year, except in July and August, normal and sometimes slow 'catch-up' growth would be possible in the absence of gastroenteritis. 4. Attention is drawn to the limitations of the use of anthropometry in a settled village community as the only criterion by which dietary adequacy can be judged.
