Childhood Head Growth And Educational Attainment In An Indian Cohort

Background: There is minimal information about the association of head growth at different stages of childhood with cognitive ability. Objective: To determine the relationship of newborn head size and head growth during infancy, childhood and adolescence with attained education, a proxy for cognitive ability. Study design: Prospective birth cohort study. Setting: Married women living in South Delhi between 1969 and 1973. Participants: The New Delhi Birth Cohort study followed up 8030 newborns born in 1969-1973 with head circumference, weight and height measurements at birth and 6-12 monthly until adulthood. Of these, 1526 men and women were followed up at the age of 26-32 years. Outcomes: Association between years of schooling, as an indicator of cognitive ability, and newborn head circumference and conditional measures of head growth during infancy, childhood and adolescence. Results: In unadjusted analyses, newborn head size was positively associated with years of education [(? (95% CI)=0.30 (0.14 to 0.47) years per SD head circumference], as was head growth from birth to 6 months [? (95% CI)=0.44 (0.28 to 0.60) years per SD conditional head growth], 6 months to 2 years [? (95% CI)=0.31 (0.15 to 0.47) years per SD conditional head growth] and 2 to 11 years [? (95% CI)=0.20 (0.03 to 0.36) years per SD conditional head growth]. There were similar findings for height and body mass index (BMI). In the adjusted model containing all growth measures, gestational age, and socioeconomic status (SES) at birth as predictors, only SES was positively associated with educational attainment. Conclusion: Educational attainment in this population is positively associated with socioeconomic status and its influence on inter-related early life (fetal, infant and childhood) factors like nutritional status and brain growth.

The Association of Early Life Factors with Body Composition in Peripubertal Jamaican Children / Asociación de los Factores de los Primeros Años de Vida con la Composición Corporal de los Niños Jamaicanos Peripúberes

ABSTRACT Objective: To explore the relationships among early life factors (ie maternal weight, height and body mass index, child's birthweight, birth length and ponderal index) and body composition in peripubertal Jamaican children. Methods: One hundred and seventy-six healthy Jamaican children, 9-12 years of age were recruited from a longitudinal cohort. Their birth anthropometric and maternal anthropometric data during pregnancy were available for analysis. Measurements of anthropometry and body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis were made. Pubertal stage was also recorded. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Adjusting for age and gender of the children, maternal weight and birthweight were positively associated with child's weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and lean body mass (LBM); maternal height was positively associated with child's height and LBM; and maternal BMI was positively associated with BMI and LBM of the child. Also, birth length was positively related to child's height. When child's current height was further added to the models, child's LBM was no longer associated with weight and height of mothers and birthweight but was related to child's current height (p = 0.00). Adjustment for pubertal stage in all models did not significantly change these associations. Conclusion: In this Afro-Caribbean cohort, we found that higher maternal weight, height and birthweight are associated with greater height and LBM in the peripubertal period.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Explorar las relaciones entre los factores de los primeros años de vida (ie el índice de masa corporal materno (IMC) y la altura, el peso al nacer del niño, su longitud al nacer y el índice ponderal) y la composición corporal en niños jamaicanos peripúberes. Métodos: Ciento setenta y seis niños jamaicanos sanos, de 9 a 12 años de edad fueron reclutados de una cohorte longitudinal. Sus datos antropométricos de nacimiento y los datos antropométricos maternos durante el embarazo estaban disponibles para el análisis. Las mediciones de la antropometría y la composición corporal se realizaron usando el análisis de impedancia bioeléctrica. El período de pubertad fue también registrado. Se hicieron análisis de regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados: El ajuste por edad y el género de los niños, el peso materno y el peso al nacer estuvieron positivamente asociados con el peso del niño, la altura, IMC, y la MCM; la altura materna estuvo positivamente asociada con la altura y la MCM del niño; y el IMC materno estuvo positivamente asociado con el IMC y la MCM. Asimismo, la longitud al nacer estuvo relacionada positivamente con la altura del niño. Cuando la altura actual del niño se añadió a los modelos, la MCM del niño no se relacionó ya con el peso y la estatura de las madres y el peso al nacer, sino con la altura actual del niño (p = 0.00). El ajuste por etapa puberal en todos los modelos no cambió significativamente estas asociaciones. Conclusión: En esta cohorte afrocaribeña, encontramos que un mayor peso materno, altura, y peso al nacer se asocian con mayor altura y MCM en el período peripuberal.

Growth curves for normal Jamaican neonates / Curvas de crecimiento en los neonatos jamaicanos normales

The aim of this study was to provide standards for the assessment of birthweight, head circumference and crown-heel length for normal, singleton newborns of predominantly West African descent. Data were collected for 10 482 or 94of all recorded births in Jamaica during the two-month period September 1 to October 31, 1986. After editing procedures, data were available for 6178 (birthweight), 5975 (head circumference), and 5990 (crown-heel length). The data presented in tables and growth curves include birthweight, head circumference and crown-heel length for males and females separately, for gestational ages 30-43 weeks. Data sets from the University Hospital of the West Indies in 1990 and 1999 were used to explore the possibility of secular change over the period 1986-1999. In conclusion, these ethnic and gender-specific growth curves are based on the most extensive dataset currently available in Jamaica for babies of West African descent.

Ultrasound derived fetal growth curves for a Jamaican population

The objective of this study was to develop fetal growth curves and percentile growth charts for a Jamaican population. Four hundred and ninety-nine Jamaican women of African origin were enrolled in a prospective study from the antenatal clinic of the University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. Serial ultrasound scans were performed between 14 and 37 weeks gestation to measure fetal growth. The ultrasound measurements performed were biparietal diameter, head and abdominal circumference and femoral length. A total of 2574 ultrasound scans were performed on the 499 women (mean 5.2 per woman). From these data, centiles for fetal growth curves for the four fetal measurements were constructed and percentile tables were created for a Jamaican population. Birthweight varies between ethnic groups and, therefore, so must fetal growth rates. At present, fetal growth in Jamaica is assessed using standards which are based on data derived from Caucasian populations. Fetal growth curves using data from this study would more accurately identify a fetus that is at risk and hence, provide information which could improve obstetric care. These new growth curves should provide data, which will improve obstetric decision making