Tags:Anthropometry, Infants, Nigeria and Nutritional Status
Abstract:
Paediatric anthropometric database is important for child product design and their public health plans. This is unavailable in Nigeria and most developing nations. This study aims to provide a preliminary anthropometric database of infants in our environment and determine how they relate to their nutritional status. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 108 infants recruited from a health centre in Enugu East LGA. Anthropometric variables (body weight; head, abdominal, chest, wrist, forearm, mid-arm and mid-thigh circumferences; shoulder breadth; crown-to-rump, crown-to-sole, rump-to-sole, shoulder-to-elbow lengths etc) were assessed using standard procedures. Nutritional status was assessed using the Weech formula and the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) index. Data obtained were analyzed descriptively, while chi-square test was used to determine the association between variables at α=0.05. A total of 53 females and 55males participated in this study. Their mean age, birth weight, and total body weight were 10.64±5.46weeks, 3.30±0.59kg, and 5.61±1.00kg respec-tively. Their mean head, abdominal, mid-arm, and mid-thigh circumferences were 40.01±1.92cm, 42.21±3.22cm, 13.01±1.22cm, and 19.50±2.47cm respectively. The (75th, 95th) percentile of their chest circumference, mid arm circumference, shoulder breath and total body weight were (42.00cm, 44.50cm), (13.88cm, 15.11cm), (17.38cm, 19.00cm) and (6.30cm, 7.56cm) respectively. There was significant association between nutritional status [(Weech), (MUAC)] and each of chest circumference [(x2=52.42,p<0.0001), (x2=95.88, p=0.010)], abdominal circumference [(x2=68.25, p<0.0001), (x2=115.58, p=0.010)], foerarm cirumference[(x2=45.19, p<0.0001), (x2=151.90, p<0.0001)], and wrist circumference[(x2=46.94, p<0.0001), (x2=146.19, p<0.0001)]. The protocol is pragmatic and some selected anthropometric variables of infants can rely upon to determine their nutritional status.
Anthropometric Indices and Nutritional Status of Infants in Nigeria – a Preliminary Study