AIM: To identify socio-economic factors associated with unconstrained growth among children living in well-off neighbourhoods of Accra, Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving the assessment of the anthropometric status of preschool children. Children (n = 309) between the ages of 12 and 23 mo who live in affluent communities in Accra, Ghana were recruited for the study. Weight, length and mid-upper arm circumference were taken. Information was collected on household demographics and socio-economic status, including parental education and household income. Associations between these variables and attained growth were analysed to establish cut-offs for screening children with unconstrained growth. RESULTS: The mean weight-for-age (WA), length-for-age (LA) and weight-for-length (WL) Z-scores of the sub-sample selected on the basis of high socio-economic criteria were -0.18, -0.40 and 0.16, respectively. Among these well-off children, 0% were underweight, 3.0% were stunted and 0% were wasted (Z-scores <-2). Factors associated with better anthropometric status were paternal education and household income. Two screening criteria combining the two variables were selected: polytechnic education and income > 1,000,000 cedis (435 US dollars) or university education and income > 200,000 cedis. CONCLUSIONS: The children experiencing unconstrained growth belonged to a sub-population of affluent households characterized by high paternal education and household income. This subpopulation was targeted for screening for the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Ghana.
AIM: To identify socio-economic factors associated with unconstrained growth among children living in well-off neighbourhoods of Accra, Ghana. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving the assessment of the anthropometric status of preschool children. Children (n = 309) between the ages of 12 and 23 mo who live in affluent communities in Accra, Ghana were recruited for the study. Weight, length and mid-upper arm circumference were taken. Information was collected on household demographics and socio-economic status, including parental education and household income. Associations between these variables and attained growth were analysed to establish cut-offs for screening children with unconstrained growth. RESULTS: The mean weight-for-age (WA), length-for-age (LA) and weight-for-length (WL) Z-scores of the sub-sample selected on the basis of high socio-economic criteria were -0.18, -0.40 and 0.16, respectively. Among these well-off children, 0% were underweight, 3.0% were stunted and 0% were wasted (Z-scores <-2). Factors associated with better anthropometric status were paternal education and household income. Two screening criteria combining the two variables were selected: polytechnic education and income > 1,000,000 cedis (435 US dollars) or university education and income > 200,000 cedis. CONCLUSIONS: The children experiencing unconstrained growth belonged to a sub-population of affluent households characterized by high paternal education and household income. This subpopulation was targeted for screening for the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Ghana.
Authors: Zaida Herrador; Luis Sordo; Endalamaw Gadisa; Javier Moreno; Javier Nieto; Agustín Benito; Abraham Aseffa; Carmen Cañavate; Estefania Custodio Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-09-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Torvid Kiserud; Gilda Piaggio; Guillermo Carroli; Mariana Widmer; José Carvalho; Lisa Neerup Jensen; Daniel Giordano; José Guilherme Cecatti; Hany Abdel Aleem; Sameera A Talegawkar; Alexandra Benachi; Anke Diemert; Antoinette Tshefu Kitoto; Jadsada Thinkhamrop; Pisake Lumbiganon; Ann Tabor; Alka Kriplani; Rogelio Gonzalez Perez; Kurt Hecher; Mark A Hanson; A Metin Gülmezoglu; Lawrence D Platt Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2017-01-24 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Amina Abubakar; Jacqueline Uriyo; Sia E Msuya; Mark Swai; Babill Stray-Pedersen Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2012-10-05 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Mario Merialdi; Mariana Widmer; Ahmet Metin Gülmezoglu; Hany Abdel-Aleem; George Bega; Alexandra Benachi; Guillermo Carroli; Jose Guilherme Cecatti; Anke Diemert; Rogelio Gonzalez; Kurt Hecher; Lisa N Jensen; Synnøve L Johnsen; Torvid Kiserud; Alka Kriplani; Pisake Lumbiganon; Ann Tabor; Sameera A Talegawkar; Antoinette Tshefu; Daniel Wojdyla; Lawrence Platt Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2014-05-02 Impact factor: 3.007