Mixed‐longitudinal growth of breastfeeding children in Moroto District, Uganda (Karamoja subregion). A loss of biological resiliency?

Abstract

This study examines the pattern of growth, underlying growth velocity and nutritional status in a sample of thirty breastfeeding Karimojong children, aged from birth to three years. A mixed-longitudinal structure was adopted for the study, which was carried out between August and December, 2004, in two communities in Moroto District, Uganda. Monthly anthropometric and health examinations were administered to mothers and children during this interval. Children in the study were small at birth but grew relatively rapidly for their first six months. Thereafter they experienced falling off of growth in weight, length, and head circumference. Loss of growth velocity and deterioration in nutritional status after six months was a result of physiologic stress arising from high parasite loads, introduction of inappropriate weaning foods, and psychosocial stress associated with patterns of maternal behavior. Environmental and maternal effects on child growth were exacerbated by widespread armed violence and related subsistence change in these communities. Growth of these children reflects loss of growth plasticity resulting from worsening environmental and social conditions in Moroto in 2004.

Short but catching up: Statural growth among native Amazonian Bolivian children

“…Maternal attributes. These include variables such as current age (Baker et al, 2009;Eckhardt et al, 2005;Fernald and Neufeld, 2007), schooling (Fernald and Neufeld, 2007;Grantham-McGregor et al, 2007;Kalanda et al, 2005;McDade et al, 2007), morbidity (Kalanda et al, 2005), and frequency of stress and stress-related behaviors (Grantham-McGregor et al, 2007;Gray et al, 2008).…”

“…So far, researchers have found mixed evidence for catch-up growth. Some researchers have found that stunting (particularly among children age 2) is irreversible (Cameron et al, 2005b;Gray et al, 2008;Kalanda et al, 2005;Leonard et al, 1995;Martorell et al, 1994b); once short, always short. However, other researchers have found evidence for catch-up growth (Adair, 1999;Cameron et al, 2005a;Khatun et al, 2004;Simondon et al, 1998).…”

'Disarmament': The End or Fulfillment of Cattle Raiding?

“…Of course they do not have the same agricultural possibilities as the Abwor or the same nutrition in the fi rst years of life. That pastoralists have a higher male mortality rate does tally with the results of Gray, Akol and Sundal (2008). More signifi cantly for this article, these fi gures show clearly why the Bokora were disarmed in 2008 before anyone else.…”

Child Growth: Concept Analysis

“…These are: maturation; physical, linear, longitudinal, physiological, motor growth; growth standard; weight gin; length speed. [12][13][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Basically, it refers to anthropometric changes expected to the child's age. Table 2 below presents the consequences of child growth, according to specific literature.…”