title: Correlation between target height and children's height in upper and lower socio-economic classes in India.
abstract: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that correlation between target height and children's height may be less in Indian lower socioeconomic class (LSC) than in the upper socioeconomic class (USC). Three hundred and forty-six children from USC private schools and 359 children from LSC public schools were measured. Measured heights of LSC parents and reported heights of USC parents were used. Target height was calculated for both groups. The correlation between children's height and target height was significantly stronger in the USC (0.44) as compared to the LSC (0.31). Our study showed that the correlation between target height and child's height was weaker in the LSC and thus may need more cautious interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Growth and Paediatric Endocrine Research Unit, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India. akhadilkar@vsnl.net
authors.forename: Vaman V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Khadilkar
authors.forename: Anuradha V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Khadilkar
authors.forename: Gulshan B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Maskati
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D012923:Social Class