Secular trends in growth and nutritional status of Mozambican school-aged children and adolescents.

Fernanda Karina Dos Santos,Thayse Natacha Q F Gomes,António Prista,Peter T Katzmarzyk,José A R Maia,Aspacia Madeira,Timóteo Daca,Jacobus Van Wouwe

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0114068

Abstract

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine secular changes in growth and nutritional status of Mozambican children and adolescents between 1992, 1999 and 2012.Methods3374 subjects (1600 boys, 1774 girls), distributed across the three time points (523 subjects in 1992; 1565 in 1999; and 1286 in 2012), were studied. Height and weight were measured, BMI was computed, and WHO cut-points were used to define nutritional status. ANCOVA models were used to compare height, weight and BMI across study years; chi-square was used to determine differences in the nutritional status prevalence across the years.ResultsSignificant differences for boys were found for height and weight (p<0.05) across the three time points, where those from 2012 were the heaviest, but those in 1999 were the tallest, and for BMI the highest value was observed in 2012 (1992<2012, 1999<2012). Among girls, those from 1999 were the tallest (1992<1999, 1999>2012), and those from 2012 had the highest BMI (1999<2012). In general, similar patterns were observed when mean values were analyzed by age. A positive trend was observed for overweight and obesity prevalences, whereas a negative trend emerged for wasting, stunting-wasting (in boys), and normal-weight (in girls); no clear trend was evident for stunting.ConclusionSignificant positive changes in growth and nutritional status were observed among Mozambican youth from 1992 to 2012, which are associated with economic, social and cultural transitional processes, expressing a dual burden in this population, with reduction in malnourished youth in association with an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Highlights

It is generally accepted that human growth indicators are suitable markers of population health and nutritional status [1,2,3]
For body mass index (BMI), the highest value was observed in 2012, with increases found between 1992–2012 and 1999
A positive secular trend was observed in height, weight and BMI mean values among Mozambican youth aged 8–15 years

Summary

Introduction

It is generally accepted that human growth indicators are suitable markers of population health and nutritional status [1,2,3]. Childhood malnutrition is a long-standing and enduring public health problem in many developing countries [7], leading to wasting or stunting conditions and their combined effects (stunting and wasting). Global data show that the prevalence of childhood stunting and wasting has declined [7], these unfortunate conditions still present public health challenges, especially in developing countries. In 2012, 15.1% of children under 5 years of age were underweight, 24.7% were stunted, 8% were wasted (3% severely); further, 92% of stunted children, 96% of underweight children, and 97% of wasted children live in Africa and Asia [9]

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