comparison of anthropometric measurements of institutionalized and primary school children in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to compare the anthropometric measurements of instituted children to those of primary school children enjoying normal family life. To accomplish this aim, institutionalized children [n=175] age 6-12 years enrolled in five social institutions in Alexandria during the year 1984 were interviewed. The control group were randomly selected after matching age and sex [from nearest primary school at each institution]. The study revealed that institutionalized children have higher means of weight, height, triceps skin fold and Quetlet index than their control. Lower measurements of the chest circumferences were recorded for institutionalized children [6-9 years old] than their control while the reverse is obtained at 9-12 years of age