RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined growth data from adolescent girls in Latin America and almost none have been conducted in Nicaragua. Thus this study examines growth data from Nicaraguan adolescent girls. AIM: This study describes cross-sectional growth data from a sample of Nicaraguan girls. These data are compared with data from Mexican-US and Guatemalan girls. It is hypothesized that (a) Mexican-US and Guatemalan wealthy ladina girls will show better indicators of nutritional status when compared with the Nicaraguan girls, and (b) the Nicaraguan girls will show similar anthropometric indicators when compared with poor Guatemalan girls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric and age at menarche data were collected from a sample of 154 adolescent girls ages 10-17 years living in Managua, Nicaragua. RESULTS: The findings revealed that these girls are significantly shorter and lighter than US, Mexican-US and wealthy Guatemalan adolescent girls. These girls are also significantly taller and heavier than their poor Guatemalan counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the Nicaraguan girls are undernourished when compared with other Latin American girls living in an improved overall environment. The data also reveal that the Nicaraguan girls have better indicators of nutritional status when compared with a cohort of poor Guatemalan girls.
