Growth of working boys in Jordan: a cross-sectional survey using non-working male siblings as comparisons.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of work on growth of Jordanian boys, aged 10-16 years, using non-working male siblings as controls.


METHODS
The Jordanian areas of Irbid, Jarash and the North Jordan Valley.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of working boys and their non-working brothers.


RESULTS
Height-for-age z-score; weight-for-age z-score.


METHODS
Working boys (103) and non-working male siblings (103) (nearest in age to the working child) were interviewed, with their mothers, in the family home. Heights and weights of the working boys and their non-working male siblings were measured, and capillary blood was taken for packed-cell volume estimation. Heights and weights were converted to z-scores, and means for all three outcomes were compared between working boys and non-working siblings, using independent sample t-tests. The effect of the proportion of household income contributed by the working child's income on the main outcomes, among non-working siblings, was estimated by simple linear regression.


RESULTS
Means for height-for-age z-score (p < 0.001), weight-for-age z-score (p < 0.001), and packed-cell volume (p < 0.001) among working boys were significantly lower than means for their non-working siblings. The main outcomes among non-working siblings were not significantly correlated with the proportion of household income contributed by the working child.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that work among boys aged 10-16 years in Jordan puts them at increased risk of stunting, wasting and anaemia. Previous studies have suggested this relationship but have suffered from confounding by socioeconomic status. Comparison with non-working siblings reduces the chances of socioeconomic status confounding.
Hawamdeh
H
H
School of Postgraduate Medical Education, University of Warwick, UK.
Spencer
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D009679:Nuclear Family; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012923:Social Class