Changes in patterns of growth and nutritional anthropometry in two rural modernizing Papua New Guinea communities

In Papua New Guinea growth is slow and adult body size is small. This is often considered an adaptation to the low energy and nutrient densities of the diets in which tubers and root crops predominate. Social and economic change have been a feature of Papua New Guinea, particularly in recent times. In 1969 the human biology of two contrasting communities, one coastal with a long interaction with external influences and cash cropping, the other a highland community with a history of more recent contacts, was investigated. In 1984 repeat measurements of nutritional anthropometry were made on the villagers and those born in the previous 14 years. The coastal boys and girls were taller and heavier in 1984 compared with 1969 but remained below the 5th percentile of reference North American data. Increases were also found in the highland children, particularly girls, but significantly lower means were found in children under 2 years. Although stunting was less common in the coastal children in 1984, 156 cases (37%) versus 175 cases (43%) (chi 2 = 7.69, rho < 0.05), wasting increased in prevalence from 11 cases (3%) to 20 cases (5%) (n.s.), either because of recent food shortages or because height change was greater than weight change. Stunting rose by 3% to 53% (165 cases) in highland children (chi 2 = 7.24, p < 0.05). In adults, heights were 2-3 cm greater in 1984 than 1969, and weights 2-3 kg greater, with peak differences in the 30-39-year-olds. The percentage of coastal women with body mass indices of less than 18.5 kg/m2 fell from 32% to 15% (chi 2 = 27.4, p < 0.01). Mid-upper arm circumferences and triceps skinfolds were significantly higher in all groups. National and regional data suggest that the communities were better off in 1984 than 1969, but social and economic changes were associated with variable benefits in growth and nutritional status.