Physical Growth Research Articles

Physical growth of chinese girls' menarche onset

Physical growth of chinese girls' menarche onset

Menarche as Maturational Factor in Young Swimmers' Development of Morphological, Physical and Performance Characteristics over a Year of Training.

At the age of menarche, there is a significant increase in the secretion of sex hormones, affecting physical and morphological growth. This study aimed to investigate the impact of menarche on the development of body dimensions, fitness level, technical skills and performance in pubertal female swimmers over one year of training. Nineteen young swimmers within the same age group (11-12 years) were assessed in two consecutive years. Participants were allocated into two groups (Menarche and Pre-menarche) based on the presence of menarche in the transition from the 1st to the 2nd year. Anthropometric measures, physical fitness (countermovement jump and handgrip), skill tests (glide and 10 m underwater from start and push) and specific performance tests (50, 100, and 200 m) were evaluated. Menarche-based differences were identified in handgrip strength, 10 m underwater from push, and sprint performance in the 2nd year (P < 0.05), with menarcheal girls showing greater improvement in these attributes throughout the year. In contrast, premenarcheal swimmers exhibited greater increases in body dimensions (stature, body mass, foot and hand lengths) up to 9.5% and improved performance in the 200 m, reducing the significant differences compared to menarcheal girls in the 2nd year. Muscular strength, hand length, and 10 m underwater performance were significantly associated with short-distance performance, especially in menarcheal girls (r > 0.59), while maturity and training were more related to 200 m performance (P < 0.05). These findings highlight the different timing of improvement in female swimmers' attributes based on menarche. Along with the age at peak height velocity (APHV), the age of menarche might be a valuable tool for monitoring and adapting training and talent identification processes.

Sayaw Na, Sport Pa: Quality of Coaching and Training of Dancesport Athletes

Dances port, a fusion of artistry and athleticism, demands rigorous training and effective coaching to achieve competitive success. This study examines the relationship between coaching quality, training effectiveness, and competition standing among Dancesport athletes in General Santos City. Using a convergent mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys and open-ended responses and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation, and narrative analysis. Results indicate that coaching quality does not directly influence the extent of training, suggesting that training frequency and intensity may be shaped by external factors, such as athlete experience and personal commitments. However, there is a notable correlation between coaching quality and training effectiveness, highlighting that varied coaching styles significantly impact athletes’ confidence, adaptability, and creativity. Conversely, the study finds no clear link between coaching quality and competition standing, implying that external elements, including institutional support and competition experience, may play a greater role in performance outcomes. The findings emphasize that structured training significantly enhances technical proficiency, but inconsistencies in methods and limited institutional backing hinder skill refinement and competitive advancement. The study recommends holistic coaching approaches that combine technical expertise with emotional support, alongside structured intervention programs such as mentorship, performance analysis, and exposure to elite competitions. These strategies aim to enhance athlete development and bridge the gap between local and national competitiveness. To optimize performance outcomes in Dancesport, institutions are advised to adopt evidence-based coaching models that foster both physical and mental growth. Additionally, future research should explore the long-term effects of coaching styles on athlete progression to further refine training methodologies.

Development of goat milk yogurt with additional inulin as a functional food for stunting prevention in children.

Introduction: Stunting is a global issue affecting physical and cognitive growth, influenced by low nutritional intake and impaired gut health. With its high mineral bioavailability, quality protein, and easily digestible fatty acids, goat milk is suitable for malnourished children. Objective : This study aims to advance a yogurt formula based on goat's milk by adding inulin as a functional food to prevent stunting. Methods : Goat milk is obtained from Etawa local farms. Inulin powder is obtained through purchases in the marketplace from trusted regional brands. Yogurt is made by adding inulin with different concentrations (F0: 0%, F1: 0.3%, F2: 0.6%, F3: 1%). Organoleptic test or sensory testing was carried out by 30 semi-trained panelists with 7 hedonic assessment scales. All of the nutrients were analyzed, and the best formula was selected following the calculation of nutrients and sensory tests. Then, the best formula was tested for its BAL value. Results : Yogurt with 1% inulin (F3) is a product with the best sensory acceptance and the best nutritional composition. There is a significant difference in taste from the results of sensory evaluation between F3 and F0 and between F2 and F0. The nutritional analysis is per 100 grams of yogurt product. F3 yogurt product has a fat content of 1.36%, protein 3.48%, and carbohydrate 11.80%. Enriching yogurt with inulin enhances its protein and carbohydrate content. Formula F3 has a BAL content of 294 x 10 4 – 36.5 x 10 7 CFU/ml and a pH of 4.07-4.14. Conclusion : Goat milk yogurt with added inulin can improve the taste quality while enriching the nutritional content, especially in terms of protein and carbohydrates. Due to its high protein content and probiotic benefits, this product has the potential to be a functional food for preventing stunting in children.

Determinants of children’s nutritional status in rural and urban areas of West Java, Indonesia

Introduction: Children’s nutritional status is a vital indicator of public health and national development. Sufficient nutrition during early childhood is crucial for supporting physical growth, neural development, and cognitive performance. A well-nourished population serves as the foundation of a productive workforce, contributing significantly to a nation’s sustainable economic growth. Maternal education plays a crucial role in determining children’s nutritional status, alongside the quality and adequacy of children’s dietary intake. Objectives: This study primarily aims to identify nutrients intake, nutritional status, and determinants of children’s nutritional status in both rural and urban areas of West Java, Indonesia. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design, involving a sample of 150 households with children under five in rural areas (Cianjur Regency) and 150 households in urban areas (Sukabumi City), both located in West Java. This study collected primary data from interviews using questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Results: The adequacy level of energy and fat is almost 100%. Adequacy levels of protein is above 100% or have far exceeded their needs. All of the micronutrients did not meet the adequacy. As many as 19% of children were underweight (18.6% in rural and 19.4% in urban), 4.3% wasting (2.7% in rural and 6.0% in urban), and 32% stunting (33.4% in rural and 30.7% in urban). The prevalence of children at risk of being overweight in urban areas was 8.7% and in rural areas was 6.7%. The determinant of children’s nutritional status was mother’s education. Conclusion: All of micronutrients did not meet the adequacy in both rural and urban areas. The results of this study indicate that prevalence of chronic malnutrition was still high in both rural and urban areas. Mother’s education was the determinant factor of children nutritional status.

Analysis of Food Security and Dietary Diversity Patterns Among Female Farmer Workers in Lombok Tengah, Indonesia

Background: Malnutrition and lack of access to food are ongoing problems in the world, and Lombok Tengah, West Nusa Tenggara, is not an exception. Inadequate dietary intake among children under five years of age in Central Lombok can have negative short and long term health effects, including stunted physical growth and impaired cognitive development in childhood. Female farmworkers have been among the most impacted populations in this socioeconomic transformation. Methods: This is a cross sectional study and subjects in the study was randomly selected, while the number of samples participating in this study was 359 farmer households. The research has a purpose to evaluate the dietary diversity and food security of female farmworkers in Lombok Tengah. Results: Meat, poultry, and similar goods were found to have statistically significant correlations with food security status in unadjusted studies. Conclusion: Additionally, a high correlation was seen between food security and household dietary diversity. The community's appalling nutrition status was made clear by the findings.

Stabilisation of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for numerical solution via standard methods

Landau and Lifshitz developed their phenomenological equation for the magnetisation dynamics in ferromagnetic solids almost a century ago. At any specific time and position within the solid, the equation describes the rotations of the magnetisation vector under the influence of the effective magnetic field, i.e. the field ‘felt’ by the magnetisation. The effective field may include, for example, an applied (external) magnetic field as well as internal contributions from the exchange interaction and anisotropy. In 1951 the form of the damping term was modified by Gilbert, and the resulting (mathematically equivalent) equation became known as the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. With the rapid increase in computational speed and accessibility during subsequent years, and the growth of computational solid state physics and material science, numerical simulations based on the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation have greatly assisted with the development of certain technological applications, e.g. hard disk drives. In the present work we review some of the challenges associated with solving this important equation, numerically. In particular, we address the challenge of accurately conserving the magnitude of the magnetisation vector, . Usually, if the equation is solved in Cartesian coordinates via an explicit numerical method, m grows or contracts linearly in proportion to the integration time. Here, we show that a new phenomenological term, in the normal form of the supercritical pitchfork bifurcation, can be added to the LLG equation to conserve m numerically, without otherwise affecting the dynamics of the original equation. The additional term stabilises the numerical solution by attracting it to the stable fixed point at . Numerical results from seven different solvers are compared to evaluate the effects and efficiency of the additional term. We find that it permits the use of standard, explicit solvers, such as the classic forth-order Runge-Kutta method, to solve the LLG equation more efficiently than pseudo-symplectic or implicit methods, while conserving m to the same accuracy. A Python 3 implementation of the method is provided to solve and compare the MAG standard problem #4. For this problem the method provides a somewhat faster solution which is of comparable accuracy to other micromagnetic simulation software.

Balanced nutrition education as an effort to prevent stunting in toddlers

Stunting is one of the health problems that is still highly prevalent in Indonesia, especially in toddlers. This condition has a long-term impact on children's physical growth, cognitive development, and productivity in the future. One of the main factors causing stunting is the ignorance of parents or caregivers about the importance of balanced nutrition in the child's growth period. This community service activity aims to increase public knowledge and awareness, especially among mothers with toddlers, about the importance of providing balanced nutrition to prevent stunting. The method used in this activity is education through counseling, interactive discussions, and distribution of educational media through leaflets and posters. The activity was conducted at the Posyandu and involved health cadres and nutritionists. The evaluation results showed an increase in participants' knowledge by 75% based on the pre-test and post-test. This activity shows that direct and contextual balanced nutrition education can effectively prevent stunting in toddlers

Potential of Fermented Eggs For Stunting Prevention: Literature Review

Stunting is a condition of malnutrition that hampers children's physical growth due to inadequate nutritional intake. This condition impacts health, cognitive development, and increases the risk of diseases. The primary causes of stunting include insufficient nutrition, infections, food security, childcare practices, healthcare services, and sanitation. The prevalence of stunting in Indonesia reached 21.6% in 2022. The government has issued Presidential Regulation No. 72 of 2021 to accelerate stunting reduction. To explore the potential of fermented eggs as a nutritional intervention to prevent stunting, this study aims to identify the nutritional benefits of fermented eggs, assess the enhancement of nutrient bioavailability through fermentation, and evaluate the effectiveness of fermented eggs in improving children's nutritional status. This literature review gathers and analyses studies related to the nutritional impact of fermented eggs. Fermentation enhances the digestibility and bioavailability of proteins, fats, and micronutrients such as B vitamins, folate, and iron. This process breaks down complex proteins and fats into simpler, more absorbable forms. Fermented eggs present a potential solution for preventing stunting by improving digestibility and nutrient bioavailability while providing beneficial probiotics that support overall health. Given their nutritional profile, fermented eggs can serve as an effective and sustainable nutritional intervention.

Are preadolescent and adolescent physical growth failures related to poorer adolescent cognitive and socioemotional skills in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam?

Are preadolescent and adolescent physical growth failures related to poorer adolescent cognitive and socioemotional skills in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam?

Evaluation of Local Supplemental Food Program for Undernourished Toddlers

Undernutrition among toddlers is a major public health issue in Indonesia, as it directly affects children's physical growth, cognitive development, and quality of life in the future. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Supplementary Feeding Program (PMT) using locally sourced food ingredients as a form of nutritional intervention for undernourished toddlers in the working area of Puskesmas Nelayan, Gresik Regency. A quantitative research design with an analytic experimental approach was applied. The study involved 56 toddlers aged 15–56 months who were identified as undernourished based on the weight-for-age (W/A) indicator. The intervention lasted for 56 days and included a five-day cycle menu composed of staple foods and snacks made from local ingredients rich in carbohydrates, animal and plant-based proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The intervention was closely monitored by nutritionists, midwives, and community health volunteers. Statistical analysis using a paired sample t-test showed a significant change in Z-scores before and after the intervention (p = 0.000), indicating that the locally based PMT was effective in improving the nutritional status of the toddlers. In addition to weight gain, the program also enhanced parental knowledge about balanced nutrition and the use of local food ingredients in daily menu planning. Thus, the PMT program not only had a physical impact on toddlers but also served as an educational tool that empowered families to adopt healthy eating habits sustainably at home.

Factors Associated with the Incidence of Obesity in Women of Childbearing Age at Bandar Khalifah Health Center

Nutritional problems are one of the challenges in the field of public health in Indonesia, both related to malnutrition and excess nutrition. Changes in the era that drive economic progress also affect food consumption patterns, which ultimately contribute to the increase in obesity cases. Obesity is a significant health issue in the era of globalization and is defined as a condition in which there is an abnormal increase in body fat levels, as well as a decrease in muscle mass, quality, and strength. Women of childbearing age (WUS) are a group of women who are in the transition phase from late adolescence to early adulthood, marked by the onset of menstruation and the development of reproductive organs until reaching peak fertility. This period is a stage in a woman's life cycle that involves physical and psychological growth and development in the age range of 18-40 years. This study used an analytical observational method with a cross-sectional study design, where a survey was conducted to collect data through a questionnaire. The results of the univariate analysis of 91 respondents showed that 85.7% were obese, while 14.3% were not. Most respondents (84.6%) often consumed fast food, and 57.1% had low levels of physical activity. In terms of knowledge, 82.4% of respondents who are obese have a low level of knowledge, and most of them (54.9%) are housewives who do not have jobs. Thus, factors related to the incidence of obesity in women of childbearing age include fast food consumption patterns, physical activity levels, and knowledge levels.

The relationship between physical activity performance levels and child development among children in AlAhsa city

Background: Physical activity, encompassing any bodily movement that requires energy expenditure through muscular effort, is integral to health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. In children, it plays a crucial role in developing fundamental motor skills (FMS) such as stability, locomotion, and object control, which form the basis for more complex physical and athletic abilities. The early childhood phase, particularly between the ages of three and seven, represents a vital window for physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional growth. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between levels of physical activity performance and developmental outcomes in school-aged children residing in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was utilized, employing a structured questionnaire administered to parents to collect data regarding their children's physical activity engagement and developmental progress. The questionnaire employed a four-point Likert scale (ranging from 1: strongly agree to 4: strongly disagree) to assess perceptions related to the influence of physical activity on physical, cognitive, and social domains of child development. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods to extract meaningful interpretations. Results: Results demonstrated a significant positive perception of physical activity’s role in enhancing children's social capabilities and cooperative behaviors, with a mean agreement score of 3.40. Furthermore, physical activity was widely recognized for contributing to physical development, particularly muscle and bone health, with a mean score of 3.54. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the diverse developmental benefits of regular physical activity in children, notably in physical, cognitive, and social domains. The role of parents emerged as pivotal in promoting and maintaining children’s participation in active behaviors. These insights highlight the importance of implementing targeted awareness initiatives and structured physical activity programs to support the comprehensive development and well-being of children.

Nutritional Status of Elementary School-Age Children in Oransbari About Cognitive and Motoric Ability

One of the phenotypic variations in humans to adapt to environmental conditions is physical growth. One of the impacts of environmental pressure on children's growth is malnutrition. This research aims to assess the association of nutritional status with cognitive abilities and motor skills in elementary school-age children in Oransbari, South Manokwari, West Papua. Cross-sectional design research was carried out on children aged 6–12 years from two primary schools in January- June 2023. Semistructured interviews guided by a questionnaire were carried out to collect data on cognitive and motoric abilities. Body height and body weight were measured to assess the nutritional status. Our research showed that nutritional status was mostly a normal category, while stunting, severe stunting, and thinness which refers to undernutrition were quite low. Undernutrition tendency in Papuan children was higher than in non-Papuan children, with the severely stunted 2.44%:0.83% between Papuan and non-Papuan and thinness at 7.32%:5.83%. Expectably stunted category non-Papuan showed quite high than Papuan (3.33%:2.44%). In contrast, the percentages of thinness and obesity which refer to overnutrition were quite high in non-Papuan with values of 14.0% and 16.6% respectively. The chi-square test showed that the malnutrition category was not related to cognitive and motor skills (P-value &lt;0.05).

Effects of Structured Play Therapy on Growth of Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved a protocol advocating for the inclusion of psychosocial stimulation in the management strategy to mitigate the lasting negative developmental effects of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Aims: To assess the impact of structured play therapy along with nutritional support on physical growth of children with SAM. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out the in the Department of Pediatrics, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital (SSMC MH), Dhaka from June 2019 to June 2020. This study enrolled a total of 174 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) between 6 months to 59 months and randomly allocated to intervention group (n=87) and control group (n=87). Intervention group received structured play therapy as psychosocial stimulation along with standard treatment and control group received standard treatment along with psychosocial stimulation in conventional way. Growth outcomes were measured in both groups during admission and during follow up at 15 days, 1 month, 2 months and 3 months after discharge. Results: Intervention group achieved improvement compared to control group from baseline in terms of the WAZ, LAZ, WLZ and MUAC after 1st, 2nd and 3rd month follow up. Among 72 children of intervention group, 51(70.8%) were found to achieve improvement in term of MUAC, WAZ, LAZ/HAZ and WLZ/WHZ and remaining 21(29.2%) could not achieve improvement. Children who received family food (43.1%) followed by formula (38.9), breast milk (13.9%) and other food (4.2%). Conclusion: Children afflicted with SAM demonstrated notable improvements in achieving catch-up growth when provided with psychosocial stimulation through structured play therapy in conjunction with nutritional support.

Psychosocial, neurocognitive, and physical development in Eastern European adopted adolescents with and without fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Most internationally adopted individuals have been exposed to an array of developmental risk factors, including early institutionalization and other adverse experiences. Adopted children from Eastern Europe tend to show worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than adopted individuals from other areas of origin. Previous studies have shown a high incidence of prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) among this population, a factor that may explain some of their complex needs. However, direct comparisons of adoptees (from Eastern Europe or elsewhere) with and without FASD have not been previously reported. In this study, we compared 69 internationally adopted adolescents with and without FASD and 30 community adolescents in their degree of physical growth, neurobehavioral impairment, psychosocial, and neurocognitive function using standardized assessments including both parent-reported questionnaires and performance tests. The presence of FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure was collected via parent reports. Fourteen adopted adolescents (20.3% of the adopted sample) had FASD, whereas 55 adopted adolescents did not. Adopted adolescents in the FASD group showed more difficulties in several domains of psychosocial adjustment and cognitive development and lower head circumferences, compared with adopted adolescents without FASD and community adolescents, whereas in a few other areas, the pattern was less clear-cut. Adopted adolescents without FASD also presented difficulties, although to a lesser degree. Adopted adolescents with FASD showed a complex profile of deficits in social communication, certain neurocognitive areas (particularly in working memory and language), and self-regulation. However, given that internationally adopted individuals have been exposed to an array of developmental risk factors for neurodevelopment, caution is needed before assuming that the difficulties observed in adoptees from Eastern Europe derive exclusively from prenatal alcohol exposure.

Relationships between models and data in growing poultry

ABSTRACT 1. Three plausible rules are used to define the problem that a growth function must solve. Rule 1, growth rate, dW/dt, is a function of weight, W; Rule 2; the standard deviation of weight, σw, is proportional to W so that the natural log of W, lnW, rather than W should be used; Rule 3, there is an upper limit to body weight, A which represents the animal’s mature weight. 2. Applying the rules identifies a problem: how is the rate of change in lnW over time, dlnW/dt, related to lnW? The problem is solved by using Rule 4, which is to make the relationship as simple as possible. The solution is a form of the Gompertz function: dlnW/dt=B.ln(A/W), where B is a parameter describing the rate of maturing. 3. The following study proposed that this function sufficiently described the inherited post-hatching growth potential of domestic birds. It was used to explore whether any given data set can describe such potential at all times. It can be further used to explore errors in data collection and misreporting. 4. Examples are given for tests of the function, its use in examining data for accuracy and extension to chemical and physical growth. For male broilers of the Cobb 700 strain, the mature weights (A) of protein, water, lipid and ash were 1194 g, 3984 g, 1541 g and 221 g, respectively. The common Gompertz rate parameter (B) for all four components was 0.0410/d. 5. Models for the chemical body composition of broilers can provide the basis for calculating energy and amino acid requirements, responses and economically optimum feeding strategies.

Age-specific distribution characteristics of plantar pressure parameters in healthy children aged 3-12 years

Objective: To investigate the age-specific distribution characteristics of plantar pressure parameters in healthy children aged 3-12 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study retrieved data from the hospital information system in January 2025 for 272 children aged 3-12 years who underwent physical examinations and voluntarily completed plantar pressure analysis at Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2022 to December 2024. Demographic and clinical data, including anthropometric measurements (height and weight), flatfoot diagnosis and plantar pressure parameters (maximum pressure, time to maximum force, and contact time percentage in bilateral forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot) were recorded. Participants were categorized into 3 age groups (3-6 years, 7-9 years, and 10-12 years) and were grouped by gender as well. Intergroup comparisons used one-way ANOVA or least-significant difference test or χ² tests. Spearman's rank correlation assessed the relationship between flatfoot prevalence and age. Results: Among 272 children (143 boys, 129 girls), age groups comprised 3-6 years (118 children, 64 boys and 54 girls), 7-9 years (96 children, 49 boys and 47 girls), and 10-12 years (58 children, 30 boys and 28 girls). Flatfoot prevalence was higher in boys than in that of girls (41.3% (59/143) vs. 28.7% (37/129), χ²=4.70, P=0.030), and negatively correlated with age (r=-0.21, P<0.001). There all had statistically differences in the maximum pressure values of the bilateral forefoot and hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). The maximum pressure values of bilateral midfoot in the group of aged 10-12 years were all higher than those of the other two groups (all P<0.001). There had no statistically differences in the time maximum force value of the bilateral forefoot among the 3 age groups (all P>0.05). The time maximum force values of bilateral midfoot in the group of aged 3-6 years were all lower than those of the other two groups (all P<0.05). There all had statistically differences in the time maximum force value of the bilateral hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). There all had statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral forefoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all the lowest, and those of the group of aged 10-12 years were all the highest (all P<0.05). There had no statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral midfoot among the 3 age groups (all P>0.05). There all hacl statistically differences in the contact time percentage values of the bilateral hindfoot among the 3 age groups (all P<0.001), and after pairwise comparison, those of the group of aged 3-6 years were all lower than those of the other two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Plantar pressure parameters exhibit distinct age-related patterns, reflecting the development of gait patterns and foot arch formation, which will be useful for monitoring physical growth and sports rehabilitation.

Structure of bubbling solutions of Liouville systems with negative singular sources

Liouville systems on Riemann surfaces are instrumental in modeling species growth and particle dynamics in biology and physics. Previously, we established a priori estimates for parameters across regions defined by critical hyper-surfaces. Here, we extend this by giving a priori estimates when parameters are critically positioned. This involves thoroughly characterizing bubble interaction, a key challenge in Liouville systems. During blowup events, we ascertain the exact heights of bubbling solutions about each blowup point, the integrals of each component, and the blowup points’ positions. Moreover, as the parameter [Formula: see text] approaches a critical hyper-surface, we identify a pivotal leading term vital for numerous applications.

A Bayesian quantile regression approach for determining risk factors of low birth weight of under five children in Cambodia

Birth weight (BW) is a key indicator of a newborn’s health, survival, and development. It is associated with the risk of childhood mortality and is also related to health, physical growth, emotional well-being, and academic success throughout both childhood and adulthood. Therefore, it is crucial to pinpoint the sociodemographic characteristics that have an impact on BW. This study aimed to explore the risk factors associated with children’s low birth weight using the latest nationwide secondary data extracted from the Cambodia Demographic and Health Survey (CDHS) 2021/22. The study included a weighted sample of 4701 children from the CDHS 2021–22 data. Multivariable simultaneous quantile regression models in a Bayesian setting were used to determine the factors associated with Cambodian children’s low birth weight. The average BW is 3.064 (SD 0.483 kg) kg. It is observed that there are some outliers in the target variable and the birth weight of the child is deviated from normal distribution. Women who are young (15–17 years) for their first baby have more low BW infants overall than women who have their first babies later. For mothers aged 18–24 years, children’s birth weight increases by 0.068 to 0.149 points when moving from the 10th to the 50th quantile. For overweight mothers, children’s birth weight increases by 0.123 to 0.348 points when moving from the 10th to the 90th quantile. It is observed that the prevalence of smaller size of children comes from illiterate mothers and the prevalence decreases as the mother’s education increases. More small children are born in rural areas than in urban areas in Cambodia. Our study findings show that the mother’s poor economic status is one of the major risk factors for LBW. Moreover, the birth weights of children from the richest families in the 10th, 20th, 50th, 75th, and 90th quantiles are increased by 0.075, 0.058, 0.111, 0.114, and 0.053 points respectively. The child’s sex and birth order, the mother’s age at first birth, her education level and BMI, the number of ANC visits during pregnancy, drinking water sources, types of bathroom facilities, place of residence, and wealth index are all related to the child’s size. Furthermore, mothers who have low education levels and grew up in low-income households require special consideration. To lessen the number of low birth weight babies, the authors suggest that the Cambodian government may prioritize food and health education in its school system. Additionally, the authors think that the policymakers will benefit from these findings in order to achieve SDG-3.