Factors associated with physical growth of children during the first two years of life in rural and urban areas of Vietnam.
BACKGROUND
Differences between urban and rural settings can be seen as a very important example of gaps between groups in a population. The aim of this paper is to compare an urban and a rural area regarding child growth during the first two years of life as related to mother's use of antenatal care (ANC), breastfeeding and reported symptoms of illness.


METHODS
The studies were conducted in two Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites, one rural and one urban in Hanoi, Vietnam.


RESULTS
We found that children in the urban area grow faster than those in the rural area. There were statistical associations between growth and the education of the mother as well as household resources. There were positive correlations between the number of ANC visits and child growth. We also saw a positive association between growth and early initiation (first hour of life) of breastfeeding but the reported duration of exclusive breastfeeding was not statistically significantly related to growth. Reporting symptoms of illness was negatively correlated to growth, i.e. morbidity is hampering growth.


CONCLUSIONS
All predictors of growth discussed in this article, ANC, breastfeeding and illness, are associated with social and economic conditions. To improve and maintain good conditions for child growth it is important to strengthen education of mothers and household resources particularly in the rural areas. Globalization and urbanization means obvious risks for increasing gaps not least between urban and rural areas. Improvement of the quality of programs for antenatal care, breastfeeding and integrated management of childhood illness are also needed in Vietnam.
Research Institute for Child Health, National Hospital of Pediatrics, 18/879 La Thanh Road, Hanoi, Dong Da district, Vietnam. huongnhp@yahoo.com.
Huong Thu
HT
Nguyen
Bo
B
Eriksson
Max
M
Petzold
Göran
G
Bondjers
Toan Khanh
TK
Tran
Liem Thanh
LT
Nguyen
Henry
H
Ascher
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000453:epidemiology; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology