title: Factors associated with growth patterns from birth to 18 months in a Beninese cohort of children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing the growth pattern of children from birth to 18 months. A longitudinal prospective study was conducted in three maternity wards in Southern Benin. Inclusion took place between June 2007 and July 2008; children were followed-up until 18 months of age. Height-for-age and weight-for-height Z-scores were computed using the newborn's anthropometric measurements taken at delivery, every month up to 6 months and then quarterly. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and malarial morbidity were recorded. Gestational age was estimated using the Ballard method; William's sex-specific reference curve of birth weight-for-gestational-age was used to determine intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Analyses were performed on 520 children using a linear mixed model. Low birth weight (coef=-0.43; p=0.002), IUGR (coef=-0.49; p<0.001), maternal short stature (coef=-0.25; p=0.001) and maternal low weight status (coef=-0.19; p=0.006) were significantly associated with growth impairment. Only LBW (coef=-0.28; p=0.05) and maternal low weight status (coef=-0.23; p=0.004) were associated with wasting. A good IYCF score was positively associated with weight gain (coef=0.14; p<0.001) whereas we found a paradoxical association with length (coef=-0.18; p<0.001). Malaria morbidity was not associated with growth. LBW, IUGR and maternal low weight status and height were important determinants of children's growth. These results reinforce and justify continuing public health initiatives to fight IUGR and LBW and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Ecole doctorale 393, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, France; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfant (CERPAGE), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Champs de Foire, Cotonou, Benin. Electronic address: geraud.padonou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Géraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Padonou
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Ecole doctorale 393, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 6, France.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Port
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfant (CERPAGE), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Champs de Foire, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cottrell
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choudat
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rachas
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bouscaillou
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfant (CERPAGE), Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Champs de Foire, Cotonou, Benin; Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massougbodji
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) UMR216, Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: IRD UMR204 'Nutripass', IRD-UM2-UM1, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Martin-Prevel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D001541:Benin; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Infant growth; Intrauterine growth retardation; Low birth weight; Maternal undernutrition; Prematurity