English Abstract
ABSTRACT:
Aim : This study was performed to evaluate the suitability, adequacy and accuracy of the 2006-WHO growth charts to assess the nutritional status of Bahraini infants and young children.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of the growth parameters among healthy Bahraini children, based on data obtained from the official records of the Ministry of Health. Children were selected using a multi-stage probability sampling from 5 health regions. Data on weight, length and feeding practices were gathered by systematic random selection, growth charts for these anthropometric measures were then constructed using Cole’s LMS method. This data was compared with the WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Study (MGRS) data. Underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity (Weight-for-age, height-for-age, BMI-for-age) were determined using the z-scores of the 2006- WHO reference sample.
Results: A total of 403 children (210 males and 193 females) of the targeted age were recruited in this study. The mean weight, length, and BMI of newborns was 3.2±0.4 kg, 3.1± 0.4 kg, 49.7± 2.3 cm, 48.8±2.1 cm, 13.2±1.6 kg/m2, and 12.8±1.5 kg/m2 among males and females, respectively. Means of weight, length, and BMI of males, were slightly but statistically significant higher than those of females in all ages. Length and weight of children were slightly higher but statistically significant than those of MGRS children. Variations in growth pattern was found between Bahraini children when compared with Saudi cohorts. Highest prevalence of wasting was found in the age of 9 months (1.7%). Only 3% were stunted at 9 months, and around 2.5% at 2 and 6 months. Very few cases of severely stunting and very tall were found 2.3% were underweight at birth, of which 1.5% were males and 3.1% females. A higher prevalence of possible risk of overweight were found among children at 12 months of age (14.5%). Obesity was the highest at the ages of 6 and 18 months (1.2%), the majority of whom were males, (1.9%) at 6 months, and at 18 months (1.4%) were males and (1%) were females. The Bahraini infants/children (0-2) years were higher, and heavier than their cohorts in MGRS reference charts.
Conclusion: This study provides a baseline to establish reference growth charts, to ensure a correct follow up for children in Bahrain. Therefore, using national charts are more appropriate than the MGRS data. According to the MGRS measurements, some children may be considered malnourished for no clear reason.
