Incidence and correlates of "growth faltering" among 0-6 y children: a panel study from rural Wardha.
OBJECTIVE
To study the magnitude and determinants of growth faltering among 0-6 y children in adopted villages of medical college.


METHODS
A total 305 children of less than 6 y were followed monthly for 1 y to assess the growth faltering. At each visit, the mothers/caretakers of children were interviewed and information regarding immunization, morbidity profile, dietary history and child feeding practices collected using a pre-tested interview schedule. Monthly anthropometric measurements of child were taken. Growth faltering has been defined as failure to gain weight or actual loss of weight, and weight gain less than 300 g over a period of three consecutive months.


RESULTS
The cumulative incidence of growth faltering among 0-6 y children was 930 per 1,000 children per year (95% CI 900.8-959.2).The number of growth faltering episodes per child per year was 3.1 (95% CI 2.9-3.3). In the multivariate analysis, the authors found presence of anemia, presence of any illness and improper household ventilation as significant predictors of growth faltering.


CONCLUSIONS
The present finding suggests more focus should be given on early detection and timely correction of growth faltering rather than just identification and treatment of severely malnourished children.
Dr Sushila Nayar School of Public Health, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, 442102 Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
Rakesh
R
Kumar
Pradeep R
PR
Deshmukh
Bishan S
BS
Garg
D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors