Linear growth and child development in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Malawi
Authors & affiliation
EL Prado, Souheila Abbeddou, S Adu-Afarwuah, M Arimond, P Ashorn, U Ashorn, KH Brown, SY Hess, A Lartey, K Maleta, E Ocansey, J-B Ouedraogo, J Phuka, JW Some, SA Vosti, E Yakes Jimenez, KG Dewey
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We aimed to produce quantitative estimates of the associations between 4 domains of child development and linear growth during 3 periods: before birth, early infancy, and later infancy. We also aimed to determine whether several factors attenuated these associations. METHODS: In 3700 children in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Malawi, growth was measured several times from birth to age 18 months. At 18 months, language, motor, socioemotional, and executive function development were assessed. In Burkina Faso (n = 1111), personal-social development was assessed rather than the latter 2 domains. RESULTS: Linear growth was significantly associated with language, motor, and personal-social development but not socioemotional development or executive function. For language, the pooled adjusted estimate of the association with length-for-age z score (LAZ) at 6 months was 0.13 +/- 0.02 SD, and with Delta LAZ from 6 to 18 months it was 0.11 +/- 0.03 SD. For motor, these estimates were 0.16 +/- 0.02 SD and 0.22 +/- 0.03 SD, respectively. In 1412 children measured at birth, estimates of the association with LAZ at birth were similar (0.07-0.16 SD for language and 0.09-0.18 SD for motor development). These associations were weaker or absent in certain subsets of children with high levels of developmental stimulation or mothers who received nutritional supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Growth faltering during any period from before birth to 18 months is associated with poor development of language and motor skills. Interventions to provide developmental stimulation or maternal supplementation may protect children who are faltering in growth from poor language and motor development.
Publication date:
2016
Staff members:
Link to publication
Attachments
Prado_2016_Linear Growth and Child Development.pdf (restricted)Related publications
D Geelhoed, Yves Lafort, B Candrinho, E Chissale, Marleen Temmerman, Olivier Degomme
2015 Gender differences in treatment outcomes among 15-49 year olds with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in KenyaRose Jepchumba Kosgei, J. K. Sitienei, H. Kipruto, K. Kimenye, D. Gathara, F. X. Odawa, Peter Gichangi, Steven Callens, Marleen Temmerman, J. C. Sitienei, A-B. Kihara, E-J. Carter
2015 Een cross-sectionale studie naar attitudes ten aanzien van gendergelijkheid, seksueel gedrag, positieve seksuele ervaringen, en communicatie over seks bij seksueel actieve en niet-actieve jongeren in Bolivia en EcuadorSara De Meyer, L Jaruseviciene, A Zaborskis, Peter Decat, B Vega, K Cordova, Marleen Temmerman, Olivier Degomme, Kristien Michielsen