Michael O Mireku1,2, Michel Cot3,4, Achille Massougbodji5, Florence Bodeau-Livinec6,7. 1. School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK. 3. Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris, France. 4. Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France. 5. Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin. 6. Département Méthodes Quantitatives en Santé Publique, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Saint-Denis, France. 7. Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team (Epopé), Center for Epidemiology and Statistics Sorbonne Paris Cité, DHU Risks in Pregnancy, Inserm UMR 1153, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and both geophagy and cognitive function of children. STUDY DESIGN: The study prospectively followed singleton children whose mothers participated in the MiPPAD clinical trial in Allada, Benin, from birth to age 12 months. Anthropometric measurements were taken at birth and 9 and 12 months. Wasting, stunting and underweight were defined as weight-for-length, length-for-age and weight-for-age Z-scores less than -2, respectively. Cognitive and motor functions were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Parent-reported geophageous habits of children were collected when the children were 12 months. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 632 children (49.7% girls) were involved in the study. Stunting, wasting and underweight were observed in 14.1%, 13.6% and 17.7%, respectively, at 9 months and 17.3%, 12.7% and 17.2%, respectively, at 12 months. The prevalence of geophagy among the children was 48.2%. Impaired growth at 9 and 12 months was consistently associated with low cognitive and gross motor (GM) score. Children stunted at 9 months had lower GM scores at 12 months compared with their non-stunted peers (β = -3.48, 95% confidence interval -6.62 to -0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Stunting, wasting and underweight are associated with cognitive and GM deficits in infants. In this setting, impaired growth was not associated with geophagy. Further research evaluating geophagy and growth prospectively and concurrently from birth to 36 months is needed.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and both geophagy and cognitive function of children. STUDY DESIGN: The study prospectively followed singleton children whose mothers participated in the MiPPAD clinical trial in Allada, Benin, from birth to age 12 months. Anthropometric measurements were taken at birth and 9 and 12 months. Wasting, stunting and underweight were defined as weight-for-length, length-for-age and weight-for-age Z-scores less than -2, respectively. Cognitive and motor functions were assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Parent-reported geophageous habits of children were collected when the children were 12 months. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: A total of 632 children (49.7% girls) were involved in the study. Stunting, wasting and underweight were observed in 14.1%, 13.6% and 17.7%, respectively, at 9 months and 17.3%, 12.7% and 17.2%, respectively, at 12 months. The prevalence of geophagy among the children was 48.2%. Impaired growth at 9 and 12 months was consistently associated with low cognitive and gross motor (GM) score. Children stunted at 9 months had lower GM scores at 12 months compared with their non-stunted peers (β = -3.48, 95% confidence interval -6.62 to -0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Stunting, wasting and underweight are associated with cognitive and GM deficits in infants. In this setting, impaired growth was not associated with geophagy. Further research evaluating geophagy and growth prospectively and concurrently from birth to 36 months is needed.
Authors: Jamie Perin; Alvin Thomas; Lauren Oldja; Shahnawaz Ahmed; Tahmina Parvin; Sazzadul Islam Bhuyian; Bidduth Sarker; Shwapon K Biswas; Abu S G Faruque; R Bradley Sack; Christine M George Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2016-08-02 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Waruiru Mburu; Andrea L Conroy; Sarah E Cusick; Paul Bangirana; Caitlin Bond; Yi Zhao; Robert O Opoka; Chandy C John Journal: J Trop Pediatr Date: 2021-10-06 Impact factor: 1.165