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Growth of breastfed infants in Southern Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Kennedy Tay,
Shaw Gina,
Grant Stephanie,
Berhanu Getenesh,
Woltamo Tesfaye,
Roba Alemzewed,
Thomas David,
Abebe Yewelsew,
Stoecker Barbara,
Hambidge Michael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.873.10
Subject(s) - medicine , hemoglobin , demography , standard score , pediatrics , birth weight , weight for age , anthropometry , zoology , biology , pregnancy , machine learning , sociology , computer science , genetics
This study assessed the growth of 108 predominately breastfed Ethiopian infants (45% male; age 5.78 ± .52 months). Infants were weighed and measured and results converted to z‐scores using WHO software. Hemoglobin was assessed using a HemoCue® and results adjusted for altitude. Mothers were surveyed about demographic information and infant feeding practices. 22% of the infants were anemic and 25% were stunted (<‐2 length for age z‐score; mean −1.01 ± 1.34) but only 9% had a weight for age z‐score <‐2 (mean −.31± 1.12). There was no gender difference in weight for age, but males were shorter (p= .015) and had a higher BMI (p=.021). After controlling for gender hemoglobin levels were positively correlated with length z‐score (r=.304; p=.002) and family size was negatively correlated with weight z‐score (r=−.304; p=.002) and BMI z‐score (r=−.204; p=.040), but not length or hemoglobin. 65% of males were receiving complementary foods compared to 46% of the females (χ 2 ; p=.042). Introduction of solids was associated with significantly greater length (p=.048) but no differences in BMI or hemoglobin. Gender appears to affect early complementary feeding practices and growth in this sample. Supported by NIH Grant R21 TW06729 (Fogarty International Center and the Office of Dietary Supplements).