The occurrence of growth decelerations in children was studied in more than 16 000 two-to-four-month time intervals, ending at ages 6 through 59 months, during a multi-round survey in Kasongo. Decelerations were measured as changes in standard deviation scores which were compared with international and local weight-for-age, weight-for-height, arm-circumference-for-age and arm-circumference-for-height reference data. Decelerations were strikingly frequent, particularly at younger ages. An important number of decelerations was related to infection with measles which provokes initial wasting; later, recuperation was partly through increase of weight and arm circumference, and partly through delayed stunting. The measurement of growth decelerations has the advantage over isolated weight-for-age or arm-circumference-for-age measurements in that the impact of age-dependency-induced errors is largely eliminated. The relative merits of the local and international reference curves are discussed.
Growth decelerations among under 5-year-old children in Kasongo (Zaire). I. Occurrence of decelerations and impact of measles on growth. Kasongo Project Team
[Category] Fulltext, 홍역,
[Source] pubmed
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