A survey of the body height distribution profile and the prevalence of short stature of school children aged from 7 to 18 years in Hefei of Anhui province

Abstract

Objective To investigate the body height distribution profile and prevalence of short stature of primary and secondary school students aged from 7 to 18 years in Hefei. Methods Twelve schools in five districts and counties in Hefei were selected.3 593 primary and secondary school students aged from 7 to 18 years were recruited.Body heights were measured and were evaluated using a nine cities' growth standard.Short stature was defined as the body height was two standard deviation below the mean body height in each sex matched age group.The prevalence of short stature was calculated and standardized using the nine cities' population data. Results Body heights were higher in boys than in girls.The body heights of boys nearly stopped increasing after 15 years old, while the heights in girls stopped increasing after 14 years old.The body heights of children in Hefei in 2014 were higher than in 2010.The prevalence of short stature of primary and secondary school students in Hefei among all age groups was 1.12% to 4.17%, the average prevalence was 2.26%.The prevalence of short stature in rural area was 3.43%, which in urban area was 1.76%, the rate was significantly lower in urban area than that in rural area(χ2=9.793, P=0.002). The prevalence of short stature in boys was 2.60%, which in girls was 2.64%, no obvious difference was found in the prevalence of short stature between boys and girls(χ2=0.006, P=0.937). The prevalence of short stature in boys and girls in urban area were 1.75% and 1.78% respectively, which in rural area were 3.46% and 3.34%, no matter in urban area or in rural area, the prevalence of short statue was not obviously different.The prevalence of short stature in primary and secondary school students also had no obvious difference. Conclusion Body heights were higher in boys than in girls.The body heights of children in Hefei in 2014 were higher than in 2010.The average prevalence of short stature of the primary and secondary school students in Hefei was 2.62%, the rate was significantly higher in rural area than that in urban area.There was no obvious difference in the prevalence of short stature between boys and girls.Neither was the primary and secondary school students. Key words: Body height; Short stature; Primary and secondary students; Hefei; Cross-sectional studies