1
|
Cao R, Ye W, Liu J, Chen L, Li Z, Ji H, Zhou N, Zhu Q, Sun W, Ni C, Shi L, Zhou Y, Wu Y, Song W, Liu P. Dynamic influence of maternal education on height among Chinese children aged 0-18 years. SSM Popul Health 2024; 26:101672. [PMID: 38708407 PMCID: PMC11066550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Maternal education is one of key factors affecting nurturing environment which significantly impacts children's height levels throughout their developmental stages. However, the influence of maternal education on children's height is less studied. This study aims to investigate the dynamic influence of maternal education on children's height among Chinese children aged 0-18 years. Methods Children undergoing health examinations from January 2021 to September 2023 were included in this study. Clinical information including height, weight, maternal pregnancy history, blood specimens for bone metabolism-related indicators and maternal education level was collected. Children's height was categorized into 14 groups based on age and gender percentiles, following WHO 2006 growth standards. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied for data analysis. Results A total of 6269 samples were collected, including 3654 males and 2615 females, with an average age of 8.38 (3.97) for males and 7.89 (3.55) for females. Significant correlations between maternal education level, birth weight, birth order, weight percentile, vitamin D, serum phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase levels, and children's height were identified. Birth weight's influence on height varied across age groups. Compared with normal birth weight children, low birth weight children exhibited catch-up growth within the first 6 years and a subsequent gradual widening of the height gap from 6 to 18 years old. Remarkably, the impact of maternal education on height became more pronounced among children above 3-6 years old, which can mitigate the effect of low birth weight on height. Conclusion We found that weight percentile, birth weight, birth order, bone marker levels, and maternal education level have significant effect on height. Maternal education attenuates the impact of low birth weight on height. The findings indicated that maternal education plays a consistent and critical role in promoting robust and healthy growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Cao
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Wenjing Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Jinrong Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Lili Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Hanshu Ji
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Nianjiao Zhou
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Qin Zhu
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Wenshuang Sun
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Chao Ni
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
| | - Linwei Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Yonghai Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Yili Wu
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), 999 Jinshi Road, Yongzhong Street, Longwan District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Weihong Song
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and the Affiliated Kangning Hospital, North Building of Biological Research, Wenzhou Medical University, Chashan Higher Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), 999 Jinshi Road, Yongzhong Street, Longwan District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| | - Peining Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 109 Xueyuan West Road, Lucheng District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Haider MM, Kamal N, Khan S, Rahman MM, Dewan MN, Sarkar SS, Shafiq SS, Alam N. Trends in women's height and the effect of early childbearing on height retardation: An analysis of the height of Bangladeshi women born between 1974 and 1998. J Glob Health 2023; 13:07006. [PMID: 37766652 PMCID: PMC10534193 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.07006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Depending on race, ethnicity, and region, genetic variants determine human height by 65% to 80%, while the remaining variance of 20% to 35% is influenced by nutrition and other individual or environmental exposures in the early years of life. An improvement in nutrition and health in the early years in a population underprivileged in health and nutrition will likely increase the group's average height. Due to outstanding improvements in these areas in recent decades, we hypothesised that the average height of Bangladeshi women has increased. Moreover, because pregnancy at an early age affects women's health and nutrition, we hypothesised that women who began childbearing early would experience growth retardation compared to women who had pregnancies at a later age. Methods We used data from five national surveys conducted between 2004 and 2018 that collected height data from ever-married women aged 15-49 years. We analysed the height of women aged 20-29 years (born between 1974 and 1998) and examined the mean height by birth years, age at first birth (AFB), economic status, religion and region. We conducted multiple linear regression models, controlling for the differential effects of the socio-demographic characteristics on women's height over time and by AFB. Results The average height of women born between 1974 and 1998 significantly increased by 0.03 cm annually, with fluctuations between 150.3 and 151.6 cm. We also found an association between age at childbearing and height in adulthood - women who began childbearing before age 17 were approximately one centimetre shorter in adulthood than those who began childbearing at a later age. Conclusions We found evidence of an increasing trend in women's height in Bangladesh and an inhibiting effect of early teenage childbearing on attaining the potential growth of women. The findings call for further studies to investigate early childbearing and its consequences on women's and their children's growth in diverse settings, considering socio-cultural customs influencing early marriage and childbearing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shusmita Khan
- Data for Impact, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sabit Saad Shafiq
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nurul Alam
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heemann M, Kim R, Vollmer S, Subramanian SV. Assessment of Undernutrition Among Children in 55 Low- and Middle-Income Countries Using Dietary and Anthropometric Measures. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2120627. [PMID: 34383059 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Evidence on the suitability of anthropometric failure (ie, stunting, underweight, and wasting) as a stand-alone measure of child undernutrition can inform global and national nutrition and health agendas. OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive estimate of the prevalence of child undernutrition by evaluating both dietary and anthropometric measures simultaneously across 55 low- and middle-income countries. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This was a cross-sectional study that used Demographic and Health Surveys program data from July 2009 to January 2019, to allocate children into dietary and anthropometric failure categories. Nationally representative household surveys were conducted in 55 low- and middle-income countries. Participants included children aged 6 to 23 months who were born singleton and had valid anthropometric measures as well as available 24-hour food intake recollection. Data analysis was conducted from August 23 to October 22, 2020. EXPOSURES Two factors were considered to allocate children into the respective categories. Dietary failure was based on the World Health Organization standards for minimum dietary diversity. Anthropometric failure was constructed using the World Health Organization child growth reference standard z score for stunted growth, muscle wasting, and less than average weight for age. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Dietary and anthropometric failures were cross-tabulated, which yielded 4 potential outcomes: dietary failure only, anthropometric failure only, both failures, and neither failure. Total child populations for each category were extrapolated from United Nations population estimates. RESULTS Of the 162 589 children (median age [range], 14 months [6-23 months]; 83 467 boys [51.3%]; 78 894 Asian children [48.5%]) in our sample, 42.9% of children had dietary failure according to the standard World Health Organization definition without being identified as having anthropometric failures. In all, 34.7% had both failures, 42.9% had dietary failure only, 8.3% had anthropometric failure only, and 14.1% had neither failure. Dietary and anthropometric measures were discordant for 51.2% of children; these children had nutritional needs identified by only 1 of the 2 measures. Dietary failure doubled the proportion of children in need of dietary interventions compared with anthropometry alone (43%). A total of 45.3 million additional children who experienced undernutrition in these 55 countries were not captured through the evaluation of anthropometric failures only. These results were consistent across geographic regions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The results of this cross-sectional study suggest that the current standard of measuring child undernutrition by estimating the prevalence of anthropometric failure should be complemented with dietary and food-based measures. Anthropometry alone may fail to identify many children who have insufficient dietary intake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Heemann
- Department of Development Economics, Centre for Modern Indian Studies, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rockli Kim
- Division of Health Policy and Management, Korea University College of Health Science, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Sebastian Vollmer
- Department of Development Economics, Centre for Modern Indian Studies, University of Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - S V Subramanian
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|