Nutritional status and rate of growth in children of rural Taikkyi

ABSTRACT

An investigation comprising a cross-sectional component to determine nutritional status and a longitudinal component to determine rate of growth of 2-12 year old children was carried out over a period of 2 years ending in August 1986 in a rural area of Thaikyi Township. The boys had higher values than girls for height for age, and weight for age from 2-11 years, and for mid-arm circumference from 2-10 years, after which the girls had values for the above nutritional indicators. Moreover, the girls had more triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness than boys by age. However, younger ages (2 to 4 years) and higher skinfold thickness than older ones (5 to 12 years) among the boys or girls. The malnutritional rate was about 50 per cent by height for age or weight for age, but was only 4.7 per cent weight for height. The girls had non-significant higher growth rate than boys and rates for both sexes 1 year were respectively. 5.78 cm among the 2-5 year and 6-10 year olds in terms of height, and 2.06 kg and 2.66 kg in weight among the above age groups. The data of the present study could from some basis for future assessment of nutritional status of children in country.