title: Geophagy Is Associated with Growth Faltering in Children in Rural Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between geophagy (mouthing of dirt, sand, clay, or mud) and growth faltering in young children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined linear growth as height and weight standardized by age and sex, and weight standardized by height, in a cohort of children aged 6-36 months in rural Mirzapur, Bangladesh. We determined geophagy behavior at baseline through caregiver report. Anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that among children not stunted at baseline, those with caregiver-reported geophagy at baseline grew less over 1 year compared with their peers, with a difference in the change of standardized height for age and sex of -0.31 (95% CI, -0.61 to -0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show that caregiver-reported geophagy was associated with growth faltering in a pediatric population in rural Bangladesh. Future studies are needed to learn more about this exposure pathway and its relevance to child growth.
authors: International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: jperin@jhu.edu.
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Perin
authors: International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Alvin
authors: A
authors: Thomas
authors: International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Lauren
authors: L
authors: Oldja
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Shahnawaz
authors: S
authors: Ahmed
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Tahmina
authors: T
authors: Parvin
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Sazzadul Islam
authors: SI
authors: Bhuyian
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Bidduth
authors: B
authors: Sarker
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Department of Internal Medicine, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur, Bangladesh.
authors: Shwapon K
authors: SK
authors: Biswas
authors: International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Abu S G
authors: AS
authors: Faruque
authors: International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors: R Bradley
authors: RB
authors: Sack
authors: International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
authors: Christine M
authors: CM
authors: George
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010842:Pica; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: environmental enteropathy; environmental exposure; mouthing; stunting