Growth parameters of Sri Lankan children during infancy: a comparison with World Health Organization multicentre growth reference study

OBJECTIVES: growth monitoring (GM) is an important intervention ensuring wellbeing of children. If GM to be meaningful it is essential to have reference standards appropriate for that population. In Sri Lanka growth charts based on WHO multi centre growth reference study (MGRS) are used for GM. This study was carried out to ascertain the appropriateness of MGRS charts for GM in Sri Lankan children. METHODS: out of a birth cohort of 2215 children, 250 from each sex were invited for a followed up. Children were examined at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months, to measure weight and length. Statistical characteristics of weight and length for each sex were calculated and compared with MGRS data. RESULTS: out of babies invited to participate in the study 244 boys and 241 girls responded initially. Out of this 85% of boys and 86% of girls completed the follow up. Weight and length of both sexes deviated significantly at all ages from MGRS data. CONCLUSION: MGRS data seems to be inappropriate for monitoring growth of Sri Lankan children...

Iodine concentration in common potable water sources in the estates of Ratnapura district and thyroid status of children.

Introduction: Iodine deficiency is the single most important cause of hypothyroidism. Drinking water is an important source of iodine for humans. Objective: To identify the common potable water sources available to the estate population in the Ratnapura District, to determine the iodine concentrations in different water sources and to ascertain the relationship between water iodine concentrations and thyroid status of children 5 to 9 years of age. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out in three phases in 20 randomly selected estates in the Ratnapura district of Sri Lanka from September to November 2009. In phase 1, 1,683 households in the selected estates were surveyed to identify the drinking water sources. In phase 2, blood samples from 519 randomly selected children aged 5-9 years from the same estates were taken to assay TSH levels after obtaining informed written consent from parents. In phase 3, water samples from 23 identified sources (wells, rivers and springs) were analysed for iodine levels by the catalytic reduction method. Water sources were grouped on elevation above mean sea level. The mean TSH levels and water iodine concentrations were correlated. Results: The main source of drinking water was spring water (83.7%). Spring water at low altitudes had significantly higher iodine concentrations than that located at higher altitudes (p<0.01). The mean iodine concentration in spring water was significantly lower than that in other sources (p<0.001). There was no association between the mean TSH levels of children and the altitudes at which they lived (p>0.05). There was no significant association between TSH levels of children and iodine concentration in drinking water (p>0.05). Conclusions: The main potable water source available to the population in the Ratnapura District was spring water (84%). The mean iodine concentration of spring water was significantly lower as compared to other water sources. There was no significant association between serum TSH levels in children 5 to 9 years of age and iodine concentration in drinking water.