title: Growth of preschool children in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: regional and sociodemographic differences.
abstract: This cross-sectional study was performed in two regions of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The aim was to study the growth and nutritional status of children under 5 years of age and the effect of socioeconomic factors on child development. Anthropometric indices (weight-for-age, height-for-age and weight-for-height) differed in the two regions. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher among children from mainly rural Al Jabel Al Garby (6.1%) than those from urban Tripoli (2.5%). The z-scores that correlated strongly with under-nutrition included: mother's education, child's age and sex, and region. Stunting was significantly related to age and region and to maternal education level and family size. Wasting was highly correlated with maternal education.
authors.affiliation: Ecole de santé publique, Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hameida
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Billot
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Deschamps
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000886:Anthropometry; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008002:Libya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires