Heights and weights of infants and children in a rural community of Jamaica

Heights and Weights of Schoolchildren in St Vincent

Heights and weights were measured of 5600 children aged 5 to 14 years, of predominantly African origin, attending primary schools situated in rural areas of St Vincent. The mean size of these children was intermediate between that of London children recorded in 1905 to 1912 and in 1959 and not greatly different from that found in recent years in most other parts of the West Indies. These St Vincent children were larger than those measured in a small survey 20 years ago. For a given height, they were lighter than London children in 1959 and obesity was much less common. Signs of serious malnutrition were rare. A standard of mean heights and weights of West Indian children from lower socio-economic classes and of predominantly African origin has been calculated from the results of recent surveys in five different countries.

Do Child Welfare Clinics Influence Growth?

Child welfare clinics established in a rural Jamaican community for research purposes are described. These special clinics were able to devote more resources to the care of their children than is usual, yet the growth and health of these children were very similar to those in another group to whom this service was not available and who attended routine government welfare clinics only infrequently.

Height and weight growth standards for Nigerian children

A mixed longitudinal growth study of two groups of Nigerian Yoruba children was begun in 1962 at the Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, in order to establish height and weight growth standards in Nigeria. One group was drawn from "elite" families, the other from "poor" families living in a traditional environment. Four hundred and twenty-one "elites" and 475 "poor" "normal" children of one month to 3 1/2 years of age, with known dates of birth were recruited from 1962 to 1971. They were measured every three or six months from four weeks to ten years. Results for males only are presented in this paper. Third, 50th and 97th centiles of height and weight over the age range one month to ten years were calculated and the curves, smoothed using the cubic spline technique, are illustrated. Charts for clinical use in Nigeria are also presented. Comparison of the "elite" Nigerian data with U.S.A. figures showed them to be very similar. The Nigerian "poor" heights and weights compared well with the "elite" up to three months, after which time they lagged behind progressively until ten years. "Elite" Nigerians are taller and heavier than many other indigenous African groups, being very similar to American Blacks. The "poor" Nigerians are among the shortest and lightest of the African groups. It is concluded that the U.S.A. data may be used as an international reference population for Africans, but the "elite" Nigerian data would be more appropriate for Nigerian target standards. These may have to be modified for clinical use in some areas and in the light of studies of other African groups.

Body size and form of children of predominantly black ancestry living in West and Central Africa, North and South America, and the West Indies

Stature, sitting height, hip width, arm and calf circumferences and body weight have been measured in black children of Richland County, South Carolina. Lower limb height and three indices of body shape were obtained from the measurements. Sample size exceeded 200 for each of five age-sex groups representing girls and boys aged 6 years, girls and boys aged 9 years, and boys aged 11 years. Comparisons are made with findings from previous research on children of predominantly black ancestry living in west and central Africa, the West Indies, and North, Central and South America. Black children of Richland County measured during 1974--77 are taller than black children studied since 1960 in Angola, Chad, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Anguilla, Barbados, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Vincent, and Surinam. Children of well-to-do black families in Accra and Ibadan are no taller or heavier than black children of Richland County taken without regard to socio-economic status. In hip width, averages for Richland County black children are larger than those for children of the Hutu and Yoruba tribes; in arm girth they are larger than children of the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Age changes and group differences are reported for hip width relative to lower limb height, and lower limb height relative to sitting height. During childhood, the hip/lower limb index decreases, and the lower limb/sitting height index increases. Almost identical hip/lower limb indices characterize black populations in Africa, Cuba, and the United States.

Ethnic differences in growth potential of children of African, Indian, Chinese and European origin

Community surveys of infants and children of African, Indian, Chinese and European origin in Guyana and Jamaica have been reviewed in order to compare the influence of ethnic origin and environment, including nutrition, on anthropometric measurements used to assess nutritional status. Mean heights and weights of African and European were greater than those of Indian and Chinese children. African had greater weight for height and greater arm circumferences but smaller triceps skinfolds than Indian children. These differences, which cannot be explained by nutritional or other environmental causes, show that ethnic origins cannot be disregarded when assessing nutritional status by anthropometric measurements. Specific adjustments to international standards of height and weight are proposed in order to make them more appropriate for Indian and Chinese children.

Physical growth of Jamaican school children who were severely malnourished before 2 years of age

A study is reported of physical growth of Jamaican schoolboys who had been admitted to hospital with severe malnutrition during infancy (index cases). Height, weight and head circumference of the index cases was compared with that of male siblings close in age (siblings), with unrelated classmates or neighbours matched for sex and age (comparisons) and with Jamaican or US growth standards. Index boys were significantly smaller in height and head circumference than comparisons and significantly smaller than sibs only in head circumference. Sibs were intermediate in stature to the index and comparison boys. When the boys were divided into three age groups there was evidence of complete catch-up in height and weight after 7 years of age, but catch-up was incomplete for head circumference in the oldest group. No significant differences in stature at follow-up of the index boys were found in relation to age when admitted to hospital.

Chromosome studies in 101 mentally handicapped Jamaican children

Images

A longitudinal study of child growth in a rural community in Jamaica

A longitudinal study of the growth of a cohort of 229 infants born in a rural area in Jamaica and followed to their 4th birthdays is described, and this paper reports analyses of the anthropometric measurements.

Moderate impairment of growth affected the majority of children and was most marked between the ages of 3 and 15 months. Severe impairment occurred in boys more often than girls and in this comm unity was rarely attributable to disease.

The concept of weight faltering has been investigated in some detail; failure to gain weight for a period of 6 months occurred in almost half the children but was not, by itself, a useful prognostic index of malnutrition; it occurred commonly in children of above average weight whose subsequent growth was normal.

The provision of intensive care at specially appointed child welfare clinics did not completely prevent the development of serious malnutrition.