Anthropometric Measurements Of Children Research Articles

Effect of Long-Term Inhaled Corticosteroid Therapy on Metabolic And Anthropometric Parameters in Pediatric Patients with Asthma

Background: The long-term impact of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) metabolic parameters of asthmatic children is still uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term use of ICSs on metabolic and anthropometric measures in children with asthma in Iran. Methods: This case-control study was conducted among 200 pediatric asthmatic patients who were referred to Abuzar Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) during nine months. Demographic and clinical data of the patients were recorded. The participants were categorized into two groups: Group 1 (n = 100) comprising children with moderate to severe asthma, and Group 2 (n = 100) consisting of those with mild asthma. Results: The average age of 200 patients was 8.1 ± 2.9 years. The majority of them were male. The prevalence of wasting, stunting, obesity, and overweight was higher among Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p < 0.05). Patients in Group 1 had significantly higher levels of calcium, vitamin D, lipids, and glycemic parameters than those in Group 2 (p < 0.05). In addition, the duration of ICS use was notably longer in Group 1 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Children with moderate and severe asthma had significantly elevated lipid and glycemic parameters, as well as a higher prevalence of wasting, stunting, obesity, and overweight compared to patients with mild asthma. Further studies involving larger sample sizes and longer durations are necessary to confirm these findings.

Anthropometric measurements of children with neurofibromatosis type I: impact of plexiform neurofibroma volume and treatment.

In children and adolescents/young adults (CAYA) with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), associations between anthropometric measurements, plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) tumor volume (TV), and treatment history are unknown. We retrospectively investigated anthropometrics in CAYA on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) NF1 Natural History Study who had pNF TV assessed by imaging (n = 106). We determined CDC height/weight percentiles and estimated Preece-Baines (PB) height growth curve parameters. We evaluated variables that could impact height/weight including: (1) pNF volume, (2) pNF directed therapy, and (3) serum IGF-1. 23% of males and 20% of females had height <5th percentile; 13% of males had weight <5th percentile. Estimated median final adult height for males was 171.6 cm (CDC 23rd percentile) and for females was 156.2 cm (CDC 14th percentile). Inverse associations between height and weight percentiles and pNF volume were observed (Spearman's r = -0.277, -0.216, respectively). Estimated median final height was not meaningfully affected by patients who received pNF-directed treatment with MEK inhibitor. 52% of low serum IGF-1 measurements were concurrent with a height percentile <5th. Greater than expected percentages of patients had height/weight <5th percentile, and median final adult heights were <CDC 25th percentile. pNF volume was inversely associated with height/weight percentiles. Children and adolescents/young adults with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) seen at a research hospital have lower height and weight percentiles than normative populations. Growth percentiles are inversely associated with plexiform neurofibroma tumor volumes and impacted little by MEKi treatment history in this subset of patients. These findings align with prior investigations of growth in the NF1 population but are the first to examine the association with tumor burden.

Weight Gain After Adenotonsillectomy in Children With Mild Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing

It is unknown whether adenotonsillectomy causes undesirable weight gain in children with mild obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (oSDB). To compare changes in anthropometric measures in children with mild oSDB treated with adenotonsillectomy vs watchful waiting. This was an exploratory analysis of the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS) randomized clinical trial of adenotonsillectomy vs watchful waiting for mild oSDB (snoring with obstructive apnea-hypopnea index of <3 events/hour) that took place at 7 pediatric tertiary care centers across the US and included 458 children aged 3.0 to 12.9 years with mild oSDB. Participants were recruited from June 29, 2016, to February 1, 2021. Anthropomorphic measures taken at baseline and 12 months after randomization were standardized for age and sex, including each participant's percentage of the 95th body mass index percentile (%BMIp95). Data analyses were performed from March 15, 2023, to April 1, 2024. Early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) vs watchful waiting with supportive care (WWSC). Twelve-month change in %BMIp95 from baseline and undesirable weight gain (defined as any weight gain in a child who already had overweight or obesity or an increase from baseline normal weight/underweight to overweight/obesity) at follow-up assessment. The study analysis included 375 children (mean [SD] age, 6.1 [2.3] years; 188 [50.2%] females), of whom 143 (38%) had overweight or obesity at baseline. At 12 months, children in the eAT group experienced a 1.25-point increase in %BMIp95 compared with a 0.59-point increase in the WWSC group (mean difference, 0.93; 95% CI, -0.39 to 2.25). Undesirable weight gain was also similar between the eAT (n = 120; 32%) and WWSC (n = 101; 27%) groups (mean difference, 4%; 95% CI, 5% to 14%). The findings of this exploratory analysis of the PATS trial indicate that adenotonsillectomy was not independently associated with an increased risk of undesirable weight gain in children with mild oSDB. However, one-third of the children gained undesirable weight during the study, which suggests that there is an opportunity to address healthy weight management during the evaluation and treatment of children with mild oSDB. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02562040.

Associations of prenatal and concurrent exposure to phenols mixture with anthropometric measures and blood pressure during childhood: A time-varying mixture approach

BackgroundEnvironmental phenols were recognized as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, their impact on childhood anthropometric measures and blood pressure (BP) is still inconclusive. Limited studies have simultaneously considered prenatal and childhood exposures in analyzing mixtures of phenols. ObjectiveWe investigated the relationships between combined prenatal and childhood exposures (two periodic exposures) to phenol mixtures and anthropometric measure and BP, to further identify the vulnerable periods of phenol exposure and to explore the important individual contribution of each phenol. MethodsWe analyzed 434 mother-child dyads from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS). The urinary concentrations of 11 phenolic compounds were measured using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Generalized linear regression models (GLMs) and hierarchical Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (hBKMR) were used to examine the effects of individual phenolic compounds at each period and of two periodic exposures. ResultsIn the single-chemical analysis, prenatal or childhood exposure to specific phenols, especially Benzopheone-3 (BP3), 4-tert-Octylphenol (4-tOP), and Benzyl paraben (BePB) were associated with BMI z-scores (BAZ), Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and BP. In the hBKMR models, two periodic exposures to phenol mixtures had a U-shaped association with WHtR, primarily driven by childhood BePB exposure. Moreover, among the phenol mixtures analysis, childhood 4-tOP exposure was identified as the primary contributor to the positive association with diastolic BP. Concurrent exposure to phenol mixtures resulted in greater susceptibility. ConclusionsWe found that prenatal and childhood exposure to phenol mixtures might influence childhood obesity and elevate blood pressure levels. Concurrent exposure to 4-tOP may be the primary driver of the positive associations with BP.

Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam in assessing nutritional status of children with neurological impairment

BackgroundAccurate and reliable anthropometric measurements in children with neurological impairments who are not able or not suitable for conventional anthropometric measuring techniques can be challenging and potentially leading to misinterpretation of their nutritional status. Nutrition-Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) is proven useful in providing supportive evidence to malnutrition. This study investigated the use of NFPE to identify malnutrition among children with Down syndrome (DS) and cerebral palsy (CP), in comparison to AND/ASPEN Pediatric Malnutrition Identification Criteria as the reference method. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit 31 children with DS and 20 children with CP aged between 4 and 15 years old. Nutrition-focused physical findings (fat loss, muscle wasting, abnormality observations on hair, eyes, oral cavity, skin, and nails), weight, height, mid upper arm circumference, and dietary intake were collected. The malnutrition status of children was determined using NFPE and AND/ASPEN criteria, respectively. Weighted Kappa agreement and diagnostic values were analyzed between these two criteria. Chi-square test examined the association between oral cavity abnormalities and the nutritional status identified by the AND/ASPEN criteria and NFPE. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsFindings reported a significant and fair agreement between the two criterions for children with DS (k = 0.367, p = 0.018). NFPE offers a sensitivity of 81.3 % and a specificity of 60.0 % for children with DS when compared with the AND/ASPEN criteria as the reference method. Similarly, for children with CP, NFPE recorded a significant and moderate agreement (k = 0.503, p < 0.001) with AND/ASPEN criteria where NFPE offers a sensitivity of 90.9 % and a specificity of 22.2 %. Children with oral cavity abnormality were significantly associated with malnutrition defined by NFPE. ConclusionsNFPE serves as a supplementary assessment method to identify malnutrition in children with DS with altered body composition and CP with neuromuscular impairment.

Quality improvement initiative to standardise the anthropometric assessment for children under the age of 5 years at an urban primary health centre in New Delhi

BackgroundAnthropometric assessment in the paediatric population is particularly important to assess the child’s general health status, nutritional adequacy, and growth and developmental pattern. However, there are often shortcomings in the...

Assessment of Childhood Stunting Prevalence over Time and Risk Factors of Stunting in the Healthy Village Programme Areas in Bangladesh.

Childhood stunting is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh. This study analysed the data from the Healthy Village programme, which aims to address childhood stunting in southern coastal Bangladesh. The aim was to assess childhood stunting prevalence over time and explore the risk factors in the programme areas. A cross-sectional, secondary data analysis was conducted for point-prevalence estimates of stunting from 2018 to 2021, including 132,038 anthropometric measurements of under-five children. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted for risk factor analysis (n = 20,174). Stunting prevalence decreased from 51% in 2018 to 25% in 2021. The risk of stunting increased in hardcore poor (aOR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.27, 1.68) and poor (aOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.70) versus rich households, children with mothers who were illiterate (aOR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.44) and could read and write (aOR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.56) versus mothers with higher education, and children aged 1-2 years compared with children under one year (aOR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.45). The stunting rate was halved over three years in programme areas, which is faster than the national trend. We recommend addressing socioeconomic inequalities when tackling stunting and providing targeted interventions to mothers during the early weaning period.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes following possible serious bacterial infection in early infancy in Karachi, Pakistan: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPakistan reports a significant burden of neonatal mortality, with infections as one of the major causes. We aim to assess the long-term impact of early infancy infections on neurodevelopmental outcomes during later childhood.MethodsWe conducted a prospective follow-up study of the cohort enrolled at the Karachi site of the Aetiology of Neonatal Infection in South Asia (ANISA) during 2019–2020. Children with a possible serious bacterial infection (based on the WHO IMCI algorithm) at early infancy were assessed for neurodevelopment at 6–9 years of age and compared with healthy controls. The Ten Questions (TQS) questionnaire, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and Parent’s Evaluation of Developmental Stage Assessment Level (PEDS: DM-AL) neurodevelopmental assessment tools, were administered and scored by the research staff who were blinded to the child’s exposure status. Generalized Structural Equation Modelling (GSEM) was employed to verify relationships and associations among developmental milestones, anthropometry, and sociodemographic variables.ResultsA total of 398 children (241 cases and 157 controls) completed neurodevelopmental and growth assessments. Cases had a significantly higher rate of abnormal TQS scores (54.5% vs. 35.0%, p-value 0.001), greater delays in motor milestones (21.2% vs. 12.1%, p-value 0.02), lower fine motor skills (78.4 ± 1.4 vs. 83.2 ± 1.5, p-value 0.02). The receptive language skills were well-developed in both groups. According to the logistic regression model, exposure to infection during the first 59 days of life was associated with delayed TQS milestones (β = -0.6, 95% CI -1.2,-0.04), TQS hearing domain (β = -0.3, 95% CI: -1.2 to 0.7), PEDS: DM-AL fine motor domain (β = -1.3, 95% CI: -4.4 to 1.7), PEDS: DM-AL receptive language development (β = -1.1, 95% CI: -3.7 to 1.4) and child anthropometric measurements such as weight and height (β = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.4 to 0.01 and β = -0.2, 95% CI: -0.4 to -0.01, respectively). Early pSBI exposure was positively associated with PEDS: DM-AL self-help domain (β = 0.6, 95% CI: -1.2 to 2.4) and SDQ-P overall score (β = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.3 to 0.3).ConclusionChildren exposed to PSBI during early infancy have higher rates of abnormal development, motor delays, and lower fine motor skills during later childhood in Pakistan. Socioeconomic challenges and limited healthcare access contribute to these challenges, highlighting the need for long-term follow-ups with integrated neurodevelopment assessments.

Evidence of potential impacts of a nutrition-sensitive agroecology program in Andhra Pradesh, India, on dietary diversity, nutritional status, and child development.

While a number of studies have examined the nutritional impacts of agroecological interventions, few have examined impacts on child development, maternal and child anemia, and men's dietary diversity. Moreover, there have been few such evaluations at scale. We evaluated the impact of a large-scale, multi-component food-based nutrition intervention involving homestead food production, nutrition counselling, cooking demonstrations, and crop planning exercises. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted in 2021-2022 of 50 intervention villages where the nutrition-sensitive agroecology program had been implemented since 2018 and 79 control villages where only the agroecology program had been implemented. Data on self-reported dietary intake, caregiver-reported early child development, anthropometric measurements, and hemoglobin concentrations were collected using standardized procedures by trained Nutrition Farming Fellows, who were also responsible for implementing the program. A sample of 3,511 households (1,121 intervention and 2,390 control) participated in the survey. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) among women and men were mean (SD) 6.53 (±1.62) and 6.16 (±1.65), respectively, in intervention villages and 5.81 (±1.58) and 5.39 (±1.61), respectively, in control villages (p<0.01). DDS among children 6-24 months of age in intervention and control villages was 2.99 (±1.52) and 2.73 (±1.62), respectively (p<0.01). Children <2 years of age were less likely to be anemic in intervention versus control villages (59% versus 69%, p<0.01). Children 18-35 months age in intervention villages had higher child development scores than children in control villages (all p<0.05). Nutrition-sensitive agroecological programs may be effective in improving diets, nutrition, and child development in rural India.

Adoption of the Supplemental Food for School Children Program at Kulon Progo City

One of the national programs is providing Supplementary Food for School Children, which was launched to accelerate the achievement of national development goals. This complete food-based program was the first to be carried out in Kulon Progo Regency; in the previous year, this supplementary food program was provided in the form of snacks. This research aims to explore the adoption of the Supplementary Food for School Children program in Kulon Progo Regency. This research used a qualitative design with a case study approach. The selection of informants used a purposive sampling technique. Data collection is done by in-depth interview method and focus group discussion. The validity of the data is done by using source triangulation, member checking, and peer debriefing. This aspect of adoption consists of the program implementer's intention to adopt a program, how the activity implementer tries to implement a program and implements the innovations needed for program development. This is demonstrated by their being able to prepare a team to implement the Supplementary Food for School Children program in schools consisting of cooks and administrative staff, prepare the facilities and infrastructure for implementing the program, and carry out initial anthropometric measurements of school children. Schools receiving the Supplementary Food for School Children program show that they are ready and able to adopt this new program in their respective school settings

Growth in children with nephrotic syndrome: a post hoc analysis of the NEPTUNE study.

Steroids, the mainstay of treatment for nephrotic syndrome in children, have multiple adverse effects including growth suppression. Anthropometric measurements in children < 18years enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) were collected. The longitudinal association of medication exposure and nephrotic syndrome characteristics with height z-score and growth velocity was determined using adjusted Generalized Estimating Equation regression and linear regression. A total of 318 children (57.2% males) with a baseline age of 7.64 ± 5.04years were analyzed. The cumulative steroid dose was 216.4 (IQR 61.5, 652.7) mg/kg (N = 233). Overall, height z-scores were not significantly different at the last follow-up compared to baseline (- 0.13 ± 1.21 vs. - 0.23 ± 1.71, p = 0.21). In models adjusted for age, sex, and eGFR, greater cumulative steroid exposure (β - 7.5 × 10-6, CI - 1.2 × 10-5, - 3 × 10-6, p = 0.001) and incident cases of NS (vs. prevalent) (β - 1.1, CI - 2.22, - 0.11, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with lower height z-scores over time. Rituximab exposure was associated with higher height z-scores (β 0.16, CI 0.04, 0.29, p = 0.01) over time. Steroid dose was associated with lower height z-score, while rituximab use was associated with higher height z-score.

IJCM_93A: Anthropometric profile of under five children attending Pediatric at rural health training centre in Aligarh (U.P.)

Background: Child undernutrition is a global health concern. Malnutrition continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries like India. As per the NFHS-V, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in under-five children stands at 35.5%, 19.3% and 32.1% respectively. Anthropometry has become a practical tool for evaluating the nutritional status of populations, particularly of children in developing countries &amp; the nutritional status is the best indicator of global well-being of children. Objective: To describe the anthropometric profile and assess malnutrition using anthropometric measurements of under-five children attending pediatric OPD at Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Jawan under Department of Community Medicine, JNMCH, A.M.U., Aligarh (U.P.). Methodology: This is a retrospective study with secondary analysis of anthropometric data of 255 under five children attending pediatric clinic for the first time at RHTC, Jawan, under Department of Community Medicine from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2023. Collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using the software SPSS, version 20.0. Results: The median age of the children was 24 months. 52.2% of them were boys and 47.8% were girls. Severe wasting (weight-for-height&lt;-3SD) and severe stunting (height-for-age&lt;-3SD) was present in 4.3% and 10.2% of all children respectively and there was no significant difference among different age groups. Prevalence of underweight and stunting was highest in children less than 6 months. Conclusion: Undernutrition is common in under-five children and 10.2% of children had severe wasting. In order to prevent severe forms of undernutrition health education to caregivers on various forms of undernutrition is crucial. IEC activities and health education regarding infant and young child feeding (IYCF) should be strengthened, especially to caregivers of children less than 6 months.

Assessment of anthropometric measurements of premature children with physical developmental delays at preschool age

Assessment of child growth and development is crucial for paediatricians, as delays in these areas have significant socio-economic implications and their treatment can be costly. Aim. To evaluate the anthropometric measurements of premature children with physical developmental delay at preschool age. Materials and methods. The retrospective and prospective studies were conducted. A total of 108 children participated in the study. The children were classified into three groups: the main group, the comparison group, and the control group. The average age of children in the main group was 3.9±0.20 years, in the comparison group it was 4.2±0.19 years, and in the control group - 4.1±0.15 years. The main group (group I, n=57) was further divided into two subgroups: subgroup IA comprised 45 children born with a body weight appropriate for gestational age, subgroup IB consisted of 12 children with low body weight for gestational age (LBWGA). The comparison group (group II; n=31) was also divided into two subgroups: subgroup IIA included 26 children born with a normal body weight for their gestational age, subgroup IIB consisted of five children born with a low body weight for their gestational age. The control group comprised 20 premature infants born at 29-36 weeks of gestation with relatively satisfactory antenatal and intrapartum periods and no physical developmental delays. Physical development was evaluated based on anthropometry measurements, including height and body weight. Results. The study included 57% male and 43% female children. Among the children with physical developmental delay, 37% were from the first gestation, 44.3% from the second gestation, and 18.7% from the third gestation. When analysing the data, a significant difference was found in height (p=0.0002) and body weight (p=0.0006). In the main group, children born with low body weight for gestational age showed more pronounced growth retardation, while in the comparison group, premature children differed from full-term ones with more significant growth retardation. Conclusions. The study revealed that children born with low birth weight for gestational age have differences in body weight and height compared to children with appropriate weight for gestational age. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee the aforementioned institution. Informed consent for the study was obtained from the parents of the children. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Body Composition and Anthropometric Measurements in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study in Lebanon.

The occurrence of overweight and obesity among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has become a worldwide epidemic. However, there is limited research on this topic in the Lebanese population. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the differences in anthropometric measurements and body composition variables among Lebanese children, pre-adolescents, and adolescents diagnosed with ASD in contrast to typically developing peers across various developmental stages. Additionally, it aimed to investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity within this population. A total of 86 participants with ASD and 86 controls were involved in this case-control study, conducted between June 2022 and June 2023. Anthropometric measurements and body composition variables were assessed, followed by statistical analyses to examine the differences between these two groups. The results revealed a significantly higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals with ASD, particularly evident during childhood and pre-adolescence. Additionally, this group exhibited a higher body fat mass and total body fat percentage compared to controls. However, there were no significant differences observed between the two groups during adolescence. These findings emphasize the significance of monitoring and addressing weight status in individuals with ASD to improve their overall health outcomes. Future research directions could focus on investigating the underlying mechanisms contributing to the heightened prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and well-being.

Assessment of the role of gut health in childhood stunting in a multisite, longitudinal study in India, Indonesia and Senegal: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol

IntroductionChildhood stunting has a complex aetiology, with poor gut health being an important contributor. This study will assess inter-relationships between maternal and infant gut health indices and infant linear growth....

Feasibility of caregiver-administered anthropometric measurements of children under age 5: evidence from Zambia

BackgroundAccurate measurement of children’s anthropometry is of central importance for the assessment of nutritional status as well as for the evaluation of nutrition-specific interventions. Social distancing requirements during the recent Covid-19 pandemic made administration of standard assessor-led measurement protocols infeasible in many settings, creating demand for alternative assessment modalities.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility and reliability of caregiver-administered anthropometric assessments of children under age 5.DesignWe compared standard and caregiver-administered assessments within an ongoing nutrition trial in Zambia (NCT05120427). We developed a “no-contact” protocol whereby trained staff verbally instruct caregivers from an appropriate distance to measure the height, weight and MUAC of their children. We captured measurements of height, weight and MUAC among a sample of caregivers and infants in Zambia using both the “no-contact” protocol and a standard assessor-led protocol. We analyzed each anthropometric variable, comparing means between protocol group, the proportions yielding standardized z-scores outside the plausible ± 6SD range and the proportions of children classified stunted, underweight and wasted.ResultsAnthropometric measurements were captured for 76 children using both the no-contact protocol and the standard protocol. An additional 1430 children were assessed by the standard protocol only and an additional 748 children by the no-contact protocol only. For the 76 children measured by both methods, we find no differences in average height, weight and MUAC between caregivers and interviewer assessments. The estimated kappa for the binary stunting and underweight classifications were 0.84 and 0.93, respectively. In the larger samples measured only following one protocol, we find no differences in average outcomes after adjusting for child, caregiver and household characteristics.ConclusionsAnthropometric measurement protocols administered by caregivers with verbal instruction from trained assessors are a promising alternative to standard protocols in situations where study staff are unable to come in close contact with study participants.Clinical trials registration This study was conducted within a larger trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov as trial NCT05120427. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05120427.

Prevalence of thyroid diffuse goiter and its association with body mass index and the presence of cysts and nodules in children and adolescents: the Fukushima Health Management Survey.

The main cause of diffuse thyroid goiter is autoimmune chronic thyroiditis, otherwise known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Thyroid hormones play pivotal roles in growth and development during childhood. However, the prevalence of diffuse goiter and the relationships between diffuse goiter, thyroid volume, cysts and nodules, and anthropometric measurements in children are not well known. Among 789,459 participants who participated in thyroid ultrasound examinations, 320,206 participants (male: 161,728; female: 158,478) aged 1-23 years were analyzed. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to calculate the odds ratios of the standard deviation score of body mass index (BMI-SDS), the SDS of bilateral width multiplied thickness area (BWTAR-SDS) as a provisional determination of thyroid volume, and the presence of nodules or cysts for positive diffuse goiter compared with negative diffuse goiter after correction for sex and age. The prevalence of diffuse goiter increased in a female-dominant manner with aging. Compared with the absence of diffuse goiter, the age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for BMI-SDS (1 SD), BWTAR-SDS (1 SD), cysts, and nodules were 1.24 (1.21-1.27), 3.21 (3.13-3.29), 0.53 (0.50-0.58), and 1.38 (1.17-1.64), respectively. The odds ratios of nodules for positive diffuse goiter were 4.18 (1.08-16.08), 1.76 (1.01-3.07), 1.80 (1.32-2.45), and 1.34 (1.08-1.67) in the age groups 1-7, 8-11, 12-15, and 16-23 years, respectively. The age-dependent increase in the prevalence of diffuse goiter was independently associated with increased BMI and positive prevalence of nodules in young individuals.

The relationship between parental health literacy levels and anthropometric measurements of children in Turkey

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to identify the relationship between parental health literacy levels and anthropometric measurements of children in Turkey.MethodsThe research was of cross-sectional/correlational design and carried out with 378 consenting parents registered at a Family Health Center. A Sociodemographic Data Form and the Health Literacy Scale for Turkey-32 was used to collect the study data. Data collection was completed at face-to-face interviews held in the consultation department of the family health center. The data were analyzed with the chi-square test and Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis.ResultsIt was determined that parental health literacy levels were associated with level of education, income status and the state of the parents’ employment (p < .05). A relationship was also found between adequate levels of parental health literacy and the health status, weight and height standard deviation scores by age of the parents’ children (p < .05).ConclusionThis study found that adequate levels of parental health literacy were significantly lower than the European average. The study found that adequate parental health literacy had a positive effect on children’s anthropometric measurements. Health institutions and health professionals should plan training programs to improve the health literacy of parents when they apply to health institutions.

Contribution of dietary patterns and dietary diversity to the nutritional status of children under five years in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, South Africa

Food insecurity and malnutrition is a major problem in the sub-Saharan African region. The study aimed to determine the contribution of dietary patterns and dietary diversity on child nutritional status of children aged 0 to 60 months. A cross-sectional design was applied using a quantitative approach. A convenience sample (n=184) of children aged 0 to 60 months were included from the Dora Nginza Hospital (situated in Port Elizabeth in South Africa) and data was collected between May and July 2018. Primary caregivers provided informed consent for themselves and their children for participation. The researcher and trained assistants collected data using structured questionnaires which aimed at gathering information on socio-economic factors, health status, dietary patterns, and diversity. Child anthropometric measurements were performed on children following the World Health Organisation (WHO) standardised methods. Slightly more males (52.7%, n = 97) than females were included. The mean age of the children included was 20.21 months (SD = 17.1). Most were of African ethnicity (58.7%, n = 108). A total of 25.6% (n = 47) of the children were stunted, 19.8% (n = 25) were underweight for their age, 6.7% (n = 7) were classified as either moderate acute malnourished (3.9%) or (n =7) or severely acute malnourished (2.8%, n = 5), and 7.2% (n = 13) were overweight or obese. There was low or inadequate consumption of meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and the most consumed foods were soft porridge, margarine, potatoes, white bread and chips. About 91% of the children met the minimum dietary diversity score (&gt;4 dietary diversity). The child’s dietary diversity score had a significantly positive relationship with weight for height, weight for age and mid-upper arm circumference, showing improved nutritional status when a more varied diet is eaten. Therefore, these findings confirm the importance of dietary diversity and dietary patterns to nutritional status of children under 60 months of age. Key words: anthropometry, underweight, overweight, malnutrition, caregivers, nutritional status, consumption, stunting, cross-sectional

Undernutrition in older children and adolescents in peri-urban Zambia.

Adolescents make up roughly a quarter of the population in Zambia; however, most nutrition-related programming is targeted at the under-five population. Understanding the scale of undernutrition in older children and adolescents is fundamental to alleviating food insecurity and addressing undernutrition across all age groups. A cross-sectional survey was performed in four low-income, peri-urban compounds in Chilanga District which included anthropometric measurements of children between ages 6 months-19 years and a household-level diet diversity and food security questionnaire. Wasting was used for children under 5 and thinness for children 5-19 years. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to quantify the prevalence and distribution of malnutrition and understand the impact of food security. We surveyed 393 households and 1,004 children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years. Children aged 6-9 years had the highest prevalence of severe thinness (5.2%) and adolescents (10-19 years) had the highest rates of moderate thinness (6.5%). Across all age groups, more than 75% of children were in households that worried about running out of food in the previous month. 24.9% of adolescents and 28.4% of older children were in households were more likely to go a whole day without eating compared to 16.9% of children under 5. Our survey indicated that malnutrition in adolescents and older children living in Chilanga district was comparable to those under 5. Interventions to address undernutrition must be targeted at older children and adolescents in order to ameliorate this burden.