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 Printable version |
Factors related to growth retardation among 0 to 5-year-old children in an Andean valley. |
Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones / Santé . Volume 1, Number 5, 388-96, Décembre 1991, Étude originale
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 Résumé
Article gratuit
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Author(s) : Denis Sautier |
Summary : We studied nutritional status (anthropometric and clinical parameters) in 339 children aged less than six years, in four Andean villages situated in a valley at altitudes between 1200 and 3600 meters and with representative ecologies. The investigation was conducted over three seasons. The children’s mean height was low for their age, but their weight was normal for their height.
The high prevalence of early growth retardation observed in the high-altitude villages may partly be related to hypoxia, even though the prevalence was also high among the children living at lower altitudes. In addition, different degrees of growth retardation were found among children in a given village. Weaning children were relatively underweight, suggesting the role of nutritional factors and infections. Overall analysis of the children in the four villages underlined the relationship between growth retardation and mother/child variables. The analysis of the results for the individual villages identified factors associated with growth retardation in given ecological settings. An ecological selection criterion may be use for nutritional enquiries in rural areas. |
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