Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life

Mahama Saaka; Irene Abaah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life

Mahama Saaka, Irene Abaah

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 31 August 2015 Accepted: 15 September 2015 Published: 24 September 2015

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Abstract

Aim: To assess the predictors associated with infant length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) in the first year of life. This paper presents the relative contribution of maternal and child factors to child growth among children aged 6-12 months in an urban area of Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study design in which systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants, who sought post natal care services in selected hospitals within Tamale Metropolis. The association between LAZ and explanatory variables (maternal height, birth weight, infant and child feeding practices) was assessed using both bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the children was 8.6±1.9 months and 53.8 % were in the 6-8 months age group. The mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was 4.18±1.69 for children aged 6-12 months. Nearly 70.0 % of the children had adequate meal frequency, 73.0 % met the minimum dietary diversity (≥ 4 food groups) and 57.5 % of the children met the minimum acceptable diet. The greatest predictors of mean LAZ were maternal height, low birth weight (LBW), whether child is wasted or not and the consumption of specific foods groups by the child. A 1-unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.156 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.156 (95% CI: -0.26, -0.03)] among infants 6 to 8 months of age after controlling for LBW and maternal height. Among children 9-12 months, a unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.182 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.182 (95% CI: -0.32, -0.04)]. The nature and strength of association between LBW and mean LAZ was different according to the age group of the child. Among children aged 6-8 months, the mean LAZ of LBW children were significantly higher than that of children whose birth weight was normal. For children aged 9-12 months, LBW children had lower mean LAZ compared to children with birth weight of at least 2.5 kg (beta coefficient = -0.320, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, the effect of birth weight and maternal height on LAZ depended on the age of the child. The data do suggest that between the ages of 6-8 months, LBW babies may be growing faster in length than non-LBW babies. However, from 9-12 months non-LBW babies grow faster than LBW babies.

Published in	Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36
Page(s)	775-781
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Child Growth, Maternal Height, Low Birth Weight, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Northern Ghana

References

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[2]	Caulfield, L. E., Richard, S. A., Rivera, J. A., Musgrove, P., Black, R. E., 2006. Stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiency disorders. Disease control priorities in developing countries (2nd edition). Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 551–568.
[3]	Gorstein, J., Sullivan, K., Yip, R., de Onis, M., Trowbridge, F., Fajans, P., Clugston, G., 1994. Issues in the assessment of nutritional status using anthropometry. Bull World Health Organ 72, 273–283.
[4]	Hambidge, K. M., Mazariegos, M., Kindem, M., Wright, L. L., Cristobal-Perez, C., Juarez-Garcia, L., 2012. Infant stunting is associated with short maternal stature. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 54, 117–119.
[5]	Hambidge, K. M., Mazariegos, M., Kindem, M., Wright, L. L., Cristobal-Perez, C., Juárez-García, L., Westcott, J. E., Goco, N., Krebs, N. F., 2014. Infant stunting is associated with short maternal stature. PLoS One 24;9(1), e87486.
[6]	Hien, N. T., Ushijima, H., 2007. Nutrition status of low birthweight ethnic minority infants in Backan province, Vietnam. Pediatr Int 49 (2), 266-272.
[7]	Keller, W., 1983. Choice of indicators of nutritional status. In: B, S. (Ed.), Evaluation of nutrition education in third world communities. Hans Huber, Bern, pp. 101–113.
[8]	Keller, W., 1988. The epidemiology of stunting In: Waterlow, J. C. (Ed.), Linear growth retardation in developing countries. Nestec Ltd, Vevey/Raven Press,, New York, pp. 17-38.
[9]	Maleta, K., Virtanen, S., Espo, M., Kulmala, T., Ashorn, P., 2003. Timing of growth faltering in rural Malawi. Arch Dis Child 88, 574-578.
[10]	Martorell, R., 1985. Child growth retardation: a discussion of its causes and its relationship to health. In: Blaxter, K. L. W. J. (Ed.), Nutritional adaptation in man. John Libbey, London, pp. 13–30.
[11]	Mihrshahi, S., Battistutta, D., Magarey, A., Daniels, L. A., 2011. Determinants of rapid weight gain during infancy: baseline results from the NOURISH randomised controlled trial. BMC Pediatr 11:99.
[12]	Mohammadzadeh, A., Farhat, A., Amiri, R., Esmaeeli, H., 2010. Effect of Birth Weight and Socioeconomic Status on Children's Growth in Mashhad, Iran. Int J Pediatr 2010, 1-5.
[13]	Motta, M. E. F. A., da Silva, G. A. P., Araújo, O. C., Lira, P. I., de Carvalho Lima, M., 2005. Does birth weight affect nutritional status at the end of first year of life? . J. Pediatr. (Rio J.) [Online] 81 (5), 377-382.
[14]	Richard, S. A., Black, R. E., Gilman, R. H., Guerrant, R. L., Kang, G., Lanata, C. F., Ka° re Mølbak, Rasmussen, Z. A., Sack, R. B., Valentiner-Branth, P., Checkley, W., Childhood Infection and Malnutrition Network, 2012. Wasting Is Associated with Stunting in Early Childhood. J. Nutr.
[15]	UNICEF/WHO, 2004. Low birth weight. Country, regional and global estimate. United Nations Children's Fund, World Health Organation, New York.
[16]	Varela-Silva, M. I., Azcorra, H., Dickinson, F., Bogin, B., Frisancho, A. R., 2009. Influence of maternal stature, pregnancy age, and infant birth weight on growth during childhood in Yucatan, Mexico: a test of the intergenerational effects hypothesis. Am J Hum Biol. 21, 657–663.
[17]	Victora, C. G., 1992. The association between wasting and stunting: an international perspective. J Nutr. 122, 1105–1110.

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Mahama Saaka, Irene Abaah. (2015). Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(5), 775-781. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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Mahama Saaka; Irene Abaah. Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(5), 775-781. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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AMA Style

Mahama Saaka, Irene Abaah. Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(5):775-781. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36,
  author = {Mahama Saaka and Irene Abaah},
  title = {Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {775-781},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20150305.36},
  abstract = {Aim: To assess the predictors associated with infant length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) in the first year of life. This paper presents the relative contribution of maternal and child factors to child growth among children aged 6-12 months in an urban area of Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study design in which systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants, who sought post natal care services in selected hospitals within Tamale Metropolis. The association between LAZ and explanatory variables (maternal height, birth weight, infant and child feeding practices) was assessed using both bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the children was 8.6±1.9 months and 53.8 % were in the 6-8 months age group. The mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was 4.18±1.69 for children aged 6-12 months. Nearly 70.0 % of the children had adequate meal frequency, 73.0 % met the minimum dietary diversity (≥ 4 food groups) and 57.5 % of the children met the minimum acceptable diet. The greatest predictors of mean LAZ were maternal height, low birth weight (LBW), whether child is wasted or not and the consumption of specific foods groups by the child. A 1-unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.156 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.156 (95% CI: -0.26, -0.03)] among infants 6 to 8 months of age after controlling for LBW and maternal height. Among children 9-12 months, a unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.182 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.182 (95% CI: -0.32, -0.04)]. The nature and strength of association between LBW and mean LAZ was different according to the age group of the child. Among children aged 6-8 months, the mean LAZ of LBW children were significantly higher than that of children whose birth weight was normal. For children aged 9-12 months, LBW children had lower mean LAZ compared to children with birth weight of at least 2.5 kg (beta coefficient = -0.320, p Conclusion: In conclusion, the effect of birth weight and maternal height on LAZ depended on the age of the child. The data do suggest that between the ages of 6-8 months, LBW babies may be growing faster in length than non-LBW babies. However, from 9-12 months non-LBW babies grow faster than LBW babies.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life
AU - Mahama Saaka
AU - Irene Abaah
Y1 - 2015/09/24
PY - 2015
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36
DO - 10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36
T2 - Science Journal of Public Health
JF - Science Journal of Public Health
JO - Science Journal of Public Health
SP - 775
EP - 781
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2328-7950
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36
AB - Aim: To assess the predictors associated with infant length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) in the first year of life. This paper presents the relative contribution of maternal and child factors to child growth among children aged 6-12 months in an urban area of Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study design in which systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants, who sought post natal care services in selected hospitals within Tamale Metropolis. The association between LAZ and explanatory variables (maternal height, birth weight, infant and child feeding practices) was assessed using both bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the children was 8.6±1.9 months and 53.8 % were in the 6-8 months age group. The mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was 4.18±1.69 for children aged 6-12 months. Nearly 70.0 % of the children had adequate meal frequency, 73.0 % met the minimum dietary diversity (≥ 4 food groups) and 57.5 % of the children met the minimum acceptable diet. The greatest predictors of mean LAZ were maternal height, low birth weight (LBW), whether child is wasted or not and the consumption of specific foods groups by the child. A 1-unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.156 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.156 (95% CI: -0.26, -0.03)] among infants 6 to 8 months of age after controlling for LBW and maternal height. Among children 9-12 months, a unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.182 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.182 (95% CI: -0.32, -0.04)]. The nature and strength of association between LBW and mean LAZ was different according to the age group of the child. Among children aged 6-8 months, the mean LAZ of LBW children were significantly higher than that of children whose birth weight was normal. For children aged 9-12 months, LBW children had lower mean LAZ compared to children with birth weight of at least 2.5 kg (beta coefficient = -0.320, p Conclusion: In conclusion, the effect of birth weight and maternal height on LAZ depended on the age of the child. The data do suggest that between the ages of 6-8 months, LBW babies may be growing faster in length than non-LBW babies. However, from 9-12 months non-LBW babies grow faster than LBW babies.
VL - 3
IS - 5
ER -

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Mahama Saaka

University for Development Studies, School of Allied Health Sciences, Tamale, Ghana
Irene Abaah

University for Development Studies, School of Allied Health Sciences, Tamale, Ghana

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APA Style

Mahama Saaka, Irene Abaah. (2015). Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(5), 775-781. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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ACS Style

Mahama Saaka; Irene Abaah. Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(5), 775-781. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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AMA Style

Mahama Saaka, Irene Abaah. Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(5):775-781. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36

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@article{10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36,
  author = {Mahama Saaka and Irene Abaah},
  title = {Maternal and Infant Factors Associated with Child Growth in the First Year of Life},
  journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {775-781},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150305.36},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20150305.36},
  abstract = {Aim: To assess the predictors associated with infant length-for-age Z-score (LAZ) in the first year of life. This paper presents the relative contribution of maternal and child factors to child growth among children aged 6-12 months in an urban area of Northern Region of Ghana. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study design in which systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants, who sought post natal care services in selected hospitals within Tamale Metropolis. The association between LAZ and explanatory variables (maternal height, birth weight, infant and child feeding practices) was assessed using both bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: The mean age of the children was 8.6±1.9 months and 53.8 % were in the 6-8 months age group. The mean dietary diversity score (DDS) was 4.18±1.69 for children aged 6-12 months. Nearly 70.0 % of the children had adequate meal frequency, 73.0 % met the minimum dietary diversity (≥ 4 food groups) and 57.5 % of the children met the minimum acceptable diet. The greatest predictors of mean LAZ were maternal height, low birth weight (LBW), whether child is wasted or not and the consumption of specific foods groups by the child. A 1-unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.156 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.156 (95% CI: -0.26, -0.03)] among infants 6 to 8 months of age after controlling for LBW and maternal height. Among children 9-12 months, a unit increase in weight for length z-score (WLZ) was associated with 0.182 decrease in length for age z-score (LAZ) [beta = -0.182 (95% CI: -0.32, -0.04)]. The nature and strength of association between LBW and mean LAZ was different according to the age group of the child. Among children aged 6-8 months, the mean LAZ of LBW children were significantly higher than that of children whose birth weight was normal. For children aged 9-12 months, LBW children had lower mean LAZ compared to children with birth weight of at least 2.5 kg (beta coefficient = -0.320, p Conclusion: In conclusion, the effect of birth weight and maternal height on LAZ depended on the age of the child. The data do suggest that between the ages of 6-8 months, LBW babies may be growing faster in length than non-LBW babies. However, from 9-12 months non-LBW babies grow faster than LBW babies.},
 year = {2015}
}

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