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Linear growth retardation in Zanzibari school children
R J Stoltzfus1, M Albonico, J M Tielsch
1Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
The Journal of Nutrition
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Children in Zanzibar experience significant stunting, with parasitic infections and anemia contributing to growth deficits. Interventions may prevent stunting in late childhood, improving overall child health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Global Health
- Child Growth and Development
Background:
- Poor rural populations, such as those on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, face high prevalence of parasitic infections and anemia.
- Childhood stunting is a significant issue, affecting a large percentage of children by adolescence.
- Existing data on rural African Bantu populations suggest stunting affects children of various ages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe longitudinal changes in height and weight among school-aged children (grades 1-3) on Pemba Island.
- To compare the growth of these children with U.S. reference data.
- To investigate the relationship between parasitic infections, anemia, and growth increments.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal measurements of height and weight were taken at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.
- Data were compared with established U.S. growth reference standards.
- Multivariate analyses were employed to assess the impact of ascariasis, anemia, and schistosomiasis on growth.
Main Results:
- Baseline height-for-age Z-scores below -2 increased from 14% at age 7 to 83% at age 13.
- Median height increments for boys were consistently below the 10th percentile from age 8 to 13.
- Boys accumulated an average height deficit of 11.9 cm and girls 8.5 cm compared to reference data.
- Ascariasis, anemia, and schistosomiasis were found to explain a small portion of growth variability.
Conclusions:
- Children on Pemba Island exhibit significant stunting, with deficits accumulating over time.
- Parasitic infections and anemia are associated with impaired growth in this population.
- Findings suggest that timely health and nutrition interventions could potentially prevent stunting in late childhood, challenging previous assumptions about catch-up growth.