The influence of maternal nutrition on children physical development / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of maternal nutrition status on child growth in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study was performed using data from 2002 China Nutrition Health Survey in which data were collected through stratified multi-stage cluster samples in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Accroding to the height of women aged 18-44 y was 156.4 cm, the data on mother and children' weight and height/length (n = 1380) were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The findings suggest child's length (age 2) were significantly correlated with maternal heights (P < 0.0001). The mean length in children born to mothers with a height below 156.4 cm was 2.4 cm less than those in children born to mothers with a height above 156.4 cm. The prevalence of stunting in children at age 2 born to mothers with a height below 156 cm was 2.07 times of that in children born to mothers with a height above 156 cm. Therefore, the risk for stunting in children at 2 is lower in children born to mothers with greater height.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The maternal nutrition status could have a significant influence on children physical development.</p>