A cross-sectional study of the growth characteristics of Nigerian infants from birth to 2 years of age.
Malnutrition compromises the growth of children in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the prevalence of childhood malnutrition approaches 40%. There are few reports relating the growth characteristics of breast-fed Nigerian infants to the anthropometric properties of their mothers. A total of 100 urban and rural mother/baby pairs were recruited. The mean BMI values of the urban and rural mothers were 24.2 and 21.3 kg m(-2), respectively. The mean length, weight and head circumference of the rural infants were significantly lower than those of the urban infants. Z-scores based on World Health Organization standards showed: (i) length-for-age z-score <-2 in urban (27%) and rural (33%) children; (ii) a higher incidence of underweight and small HC in rural (33%; and 13%) versus urban children (12% and 0%); and (iii) positive correlations between all three z-scores and maternal BMI. Negative correlations were observed between infant age and z-scores for length-for-age, weight-for-age and HC-for-age.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA.
D J
DJ
VanderJagt
L
L
Waymire
M O
MO
Obadofin
N
N
Marjon
R H
RH
Glew
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014944:World Health Organization