STATURAL GROWTH OF CHILEAN SCHOOL CHILEREN

Abstract

Enviromental and genetic factors are involves in the growth of the human being. It is importante to compare of a population with tables of countries with optimal enviromental factors and with a maximal expression of genetic potential of growth. It seems specially important if from these comparisons programs arise that improve enviromental factors (nutrition, physical activities, education). Genetic factors could differ from one country to another, specially as consequence of ethnic differences. We are interested in knowing growth of school Chilean children, and their differences according to sex and socioeconomic level (SEL) in order to build up national tales. A sample of 6140 school age children of Great Santiago Area of Chile was obtained. It was representative of 6 to 16 years old males and 6 to 14 years old females. The school age children of Great Santiago Area represent around 45% of the total school children of Chile. Stature was always measured by the same 2 investigators. SEL was evaluated according to a modified Graffar scale obtained through a questionative to the parents. Significants differences in percentiles and averages of stature of our children, compared with NCHS (WHO) tables, were found. These differences were due to a fall in groups channels in our children and is maintained through out different ages. A difference in stature according to SEL was found, being lower for SEL. However, these differences are greater in females than in males; this is similar to previous research in our group that found stature sexual dimorphism due to an earlier pubertal initiation in females of lower SEL compared with females of higher levels.