Seasonal variation in the growth rate of weight in African babies, aged 0 to 4 years

Abstract

Seasonal variation in growth rate of weight of 4,030 Ntomba babies (Lake Tumba, Zaire), aged 0 to 4 years was analysed in relation to sex, age and caste differences. The data were collected between mid‐August, 1977, and May, 1980, during a longitudinal survey and consisted of 34,470 measurements of body weight. The actual analysis is based on mean standardized weight increments, calculated over three monthly intervals. The growth rate in weight of Ntomba babies showed a cyclic pattern, which appeared to be synchronized with the alternations of dry and rainy seasons. The unfavourable rainy seasons decelerated growth in weight to about 0.2 SD below the average rate. (This is approximately 40 g/month below the average velocity). The subsequent favourable dry seasons resulted in a catch‐up growth. The effects were visible towards the end of each season or in the beginning of the next season and were more pronounced and lasted longer when following the major rainy or dry seasons than when following the minor r...