Growth of urban school children in Malawi

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess growth pattern of urban school children in Malawi from low socio-economic strata and to compare anthropometric measurements of the children to data from the region of South-Central Africa and to international standards. A total of 493 urban school children aged 6-17 years were selected randomly from two primary schools in semi-urban Blantyre, the largest city in Malawi. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm muscle circumference and maximal grip strength of the stronger hand. All parameters of Malawian children of both sexes were lower than medians of WHO/NCHS reference data. Expressed as percentage of WHO/NCHS references, the relative means of height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference and mid-upper arm muscle circumference of Malawian girls were considerably higher than those of boys, and older girls had better parameters than younger ones. Older pupils of both sexes had higher triceps skinfold thickness relative to the international references than the younger children. Mean maximal grip strength values of boys and girls were not significantly different. For girls, the relative values increased with age, while for boys they decreased. It is concluded that younger primary school pupils have similar body sizes to their counterparts from the region. Adolescents, particularly girls, have more favourable anthropometric parameters which approach WHO/NCHS reference data. Das Anliegen dieser Querschnittsuntersuchung bestand darin, Wachstumsmuster von städtischen Schulkindern niedriger sozioökonomischer Schichten aus Malawi zu ermitteln und die anthropometrischen Messungen der Kinder mit Daten aus der Region Süd-Zentralafrika und mit internationalen Standards zu vergleichen. Insgesamt wurden 493 städtische Schulkinder zwischen 6 und 17 Jahren aus zwei Grundschulen im semi-urbanen Blantyre, der größten Stadt in Malawi, mittels Randomisierung ausgewählt. Die anthropometrischen Messungen beinhalteten die Körperhöhe, das Körpergewicht, den Umfang am mittleren Oberarm, die Hautfaltendicke am Trizeps, den Muskelumfang am mittleren Oberarm und die maximale Handdruckkraft der stärkeren Hand. Alle Parameter der Kinder beiderlei Geschlechts aus Malawi waren niedriger als die Medianwerte der WHO/NCHS Referenzdaten. Ausgedrückt in Prozent der WHO/NCHS Referenzdaten waren die relativen Mittelwerte der Körperhöhe, des Körpergewichts,