Stunting among primary-school children: a sample from Baghdad, Iraq.
The aim of this study was to establish baseline information about the prevalence and distribution of growth deficit (stunting) in a sample of Iraqi schoolchildren from the capital, Baghdad. A cross-sectional descriptive analysis of the growth status of 5286 primary-school children aged 7-12 years (2888 males, 2398 females) was conducted by measuring the prevalence of stunting (height-for-age Z-score < -2), and underweight (body mass index-for-age) using the NCHS/WHO and laTE/WHO cutoff values respectively. The prevalence of stunting only, and concurrent stunting and underweight, were 18.7% and 13.5% respectively, with a slight predominance among girls. The study also demonstrated the progression of height deficit with increasing age.
Al-Saffa
A J
AJ
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq. atheer4867@hotmail.com
D017677:Age Distribution; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*