scholarly journals Growth dynamics among adolescent girls in Bangladesh: Evidence from nationally representative data spanning 2011–2014

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0255273
Author(s):  
A. M. Adams ◽  
A. Khan ◽  
A. S. Roy ◽  
Md. T. Hassan ◽  
M. K. Mridha ◽  
...  

Background Adolescence is the last opportunity to reverse any growth faltering accumulated from fetal life through childhood and it is considered a crucial period to optimize human development. In Bangladesh, a growing double burden of underweight and obesity in adolescents is recognized, yet limited data exists on how, when, and where to intervene. This study assesses the dynamics of growth among adolescent girls in Bangladesh, providing insight about critical junctures where faltering occurs and where immediate interventions are warranted. Methods We pooled data from Bangladesh’s Food Security and Nutrition Surveillance Project collected between 2011 and 2014 to document the age dynamics of weight and linear growth. 20,572 adolescent girls were measured for height and 19,345 for weight. We constructed growth curves for height, weight, stunting, and underweight. We also stratified growth dynamics by wealth quintile to assess socioeconomic inequities in adolescent trajectories. Results Height-for-age z-score (HAZ) in Bangladeshi girls deteriorates throughout adolescence and especially during the early years. Mean HAZ decreases by 0.20 standard deviations (sd) per year in early adolescence (10–14 years) vs 0.06 sd/year during late adolescence (15–19 years), while stunting increases by 16 percentage points (pp) vs 6.7 pp, respectively. Conversely, BMI-for-age z-score (BAZ) increases by 0.13 sd/year in early adolescence vs 0.02 sd/year in late adolescence, and underweight decreases by 12.8 pp vs 3.2 pp. Adolescent girls in all socioeconomic groups show a similar pattern of HAZ and BAZ dynamics, but the curve for the richest quintile stays above that of the poorest across all ages. Conclusions Trends and levels of stunting and underweight among adolescent girls in Bangladesh are worrisome, suggesting substantial linear growth faltering in early adolescence, with improving weight-for-age occurring only as linear growth slows and stops. Given the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh and emerging evidence of the link between stunting and later chronic diseases, greater attention to adolescent growth and development is needed. Our findings suggest that, to address stunting, interventions in early adolescence would have the greatest benefits. School-based interventions could be a way to target this population.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 864-864
Author(s):  
Swetha Manohar ◽  
Andrew Thorne-Lyman ◽  
Elizabeth Colantuoni ◽  
K C Angela ◽  
Binod Shrestha ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Linear growth failure is often assessed as a height-for-age z-score (HAZ) < −2, which defines stunting. Faltering growth velocity on the other hand reveals a dynamic process, for which improving risk factors could help prevent poor growth, regardless of HAZ. Our aim was to reveal rates and risk factors of growth faltering in Nepali preschool children using a novel linear growth velocity (LGV) reference. Methods We assessed length/height in children under-five from 2013–16 during the same season in 21 wards across the plains (Tarai) of Nepal (n = 4439). Annualized LGVs were calculated from paired measures and stratified into interval-initiating ages of <6, 6–11, 12–23, 24–35, 36–47, 48–59 mo. An annualized, age-sex-specific LGV reference was derived by combining the WHO Growth Standards (for intervals starting <12 mo) and the Tanner Height Velocity Reference (for intervals starting later) using linear restricted cubic spline regression models, from which LGV z-scores (LGVZ) were derived and used to evaluate Nepali child growth. Community, household and individual risk factors were assessed during interval-initiating visits and subjected to multivariable logistic regression models to examine associations with LGVZ < −2 (growth faltering) vs > 2. Results LGV faltering affected 29.8% and 34.8% of boys and girls <24 months, and 6.8% and 7.1% 24–60 months, respectively. Girls were at higher odds of faltering, although 95% CI excluded 1 only for the interval starting at 12–23 mo (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.26, 2.50). Children <24 mo whose weight-for-height z- score was > the WHO median had lower odds of faltering than thinner children (OR: 0.25 - 0.40, all upper 95% CLs < 1). Children of short (<150 cm) mothers had higher odds of faltering, with 95% CIs excluding 1 for interval-initiating ages < 6, 12–23 and 24–35 mo. Above 36 mo, community characteristics such as proximity to market, and access to roads and schools were stronger in their protective growth association than individual or household factors. Conclusions Growth faltering can be assessed across all preschool years by this WHO-Tanner linear growth velocity reference. Nepali children exhibited substantial growth faltering <24 months. Females, children who were thin, and born to short mothers were at an increased risk of growth faltering. Funding Sources USAID, Sight and Life, and Procter & Gamble.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Erin K. Taylor

Adolescent girls have always been a relevant presence in the juvenile justice system but have received limited attention from researchers. In response to the dearth of studies on female juvenile offenders, federal study groups and reviewers have called for more research to advance our understanding of the risk factors for antisocial behavior among adolescent girls. To date, however, much of the research on antisocial behavior in adolescent girls has had relatively serious methodological limitations, including relying on correlational or cross-sectional designs and focusing on a limited range of risk factors (e.g., family or school). The current study addressed these limitations by longitudinally examining how risks assessed in early adolescence across multiple domains of youths' social ecology (i.e., individual, family, peer, school, and neighborhood) predicted antisocial behaviors in late adolescence and early adulthood for both females and males. A representative national sample of 1,033 youths and their caregivers completed structured interviews that assessed risk factors in early adolescence, and these risk factors were used to predict subsequent antisocial behaviors. Results of path analyses indicated that peer relationship variables and low levels of academic commitment were most predictive of male antisocial behavior in late adolescence, while physical abuse and age were most predictive of female antisocial behavior in late adolescence. However, most of these same variables no longer predicated antisocial behavior in early adulthood. Overall, the findings suggest that treatments for antisocial behavior should be flexible enough to target the risks that are most salient for male and female youths.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S92-S108
Author(s):  
Rina Agustina ◽  
Fadila Wirawan ◽  
Arini A. Sadariskar ◽  
Ainanur A. Setianingsing ◽  
Khairun Nadiya ◽  
...  

Background: Crucial gaps persist in knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of adolescent girls that affect anemia and linear growth failure. Objective: To understand the role of KAP as a risk factor of anemia and linear growth problem in adolescent girls. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 335 adolescent girls selected by clustered random sampling. The KAP questionnaire had 18 variables consisting of 9 knowledge, 3 attitude, and 6 practice components. Twelve variables addressed nutrition, dietary diversity, and health environments related to both anemia and stunting. The questionnaire was adapted from the 2014 Food and Agriculture Organization nutrition-related KAP guidelines for anemia. Dietary practice was evaluated from 2-day 24-hour recalls and a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Associations between KAP and anemia, and height-for-age z-score (HAZ), were analyzed using multivariate logistic and linear regression models, respectively. Results: The mean hemoglobin (Hb) level was 119.7 g/L, with 44% of the adolescent girls being anemic (Hb < 120 g/L) and mean height was 151.0 cm with 25% being stunted (HAZ < −2 standard deviation [SD]). The median KAP score was 7 and ranged from 3 to 10. Low to moderate KAP scores were not significantly associated with being anemic (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.26; P = .43), however 1-point KAP score increment was associated with an increase of HAZ by 0.037 SD ( P = .012). Conclusions: The KAP related to diet and healthy environments was not associated with anemia prevalence, but was positively associated with increased HAZ among adolescent girls. Strategy to reduce anemia risk in this population should combine KAP improvement with other known effective nutrition interventions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Isabel Ordiz ◽  
Richard D Semba ◽  
Ruin Moaddel ◽  
Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk ◽  
Martin von Bergen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Serum amino acid (AA) concentrations are correlated with childhood stunting, but their relation to linear growth velocity has not been explored. This was a secondary analysis of a clinical trial where Malawian infants aged 6–12 mo were given a legume supplement providing 8.2 g/d of protein; anthropometry was conducted at multiple intervals, and fasted serum AA concentrations were measured at 12 mo of age. Lysine, proline, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine concentrations were higher in infants with a linear growth velocity z-score >0 than those <0. Corrected Spearman correlation coefficients between individual AA concentrations and weight-for-height and length velocity from 6 to 12 mo of age were positively correlated for glycine, isoleucine, proline, serine, threonine, tyrosine, and valine. Additionally, weight-for-height was correlated with arginine, asparagine, glutamine, leucine, lysine, methionine, and phenylalanine. The observed associations suggest that testing the hypothesis that essential AA provision will reduce linear growth faltering is warranted. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02472262.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e001155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L Prado ◽  
Elizabeth Yakes Jimenez ◽  
Stephen Vosti ◽  
Robert Stewart ◽  
Christine P Stewart ◽  
...  

Stunting prevalence is an indicator of a country’s progress towards United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is to end hunger and achieve improved nutrition. Accelerating progress towards reducing stunting requires a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to linear growth faltering. We conducted path analyses of factors associated with 18-month length-for-age z-score (LAZ) in four prospective cohorts of children who participated in trials conducted as part of the International Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements Project in Ghana (n=1039), Malawi (n=684 and 1504) and Burkina Faso (n=2619). In two cohorts, women were enrolled during pregnancy. In two other cohorts, infants were enrolled at 6 or 9 months. We examined the association of 42 indicators of environmental, maternal, caregiving and child factors with 18-month LAZ. Using structural equation modelling, we examined direct and indirect associations through hypothesised mediators in each cohort. Out of 42 indicators, 2 were associated with 18-month LAZ in three or four cohorts: maternal height and body mass index (BMI). Six factors were associated with 18-month LAZ in two cohorts: length for gestational age z-score (LGAZ) at birth, pregnancy duration, improved household water, child dietary diversity, diarrhoea incidence and 6-month or 9-month haemoglobin concentration. Direct associations were more prevalent than indirect associations, but 30%–62% of the associations of maternal height and BMI with 18-month LAZ were mediated by LGAZ at birth. Factors that were not associated with LAZ were maternal iron status, illness and inflammation during pregnancy, maternal stress and depression, exclusive breast feeding during 6 months post partum, feeding frequency and child fever, malaria and acute respiratory infections. These findings may help in identifying interventions to accelerate progress towards reducing stunting; however, much of the variance in linear growth status remained unaccounted for by these 42 individual-level factors, suggesting that community-level changes may be needed to achieve substantial progress.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Orwa Dandash ◽  
Nicolas Cherbuin ◽  
Orli Schwartz ◽  
Nicholas B. Allen ◽  
Sarah Whittle

AbstractParenting behavior has a vital role in the development of the brain and cognitive abilities of offspring throughout childhood and adolescence. While positive and aggressive parenting behavior have been suggested to impact neurobiology in the form of abnormal brain activation in adolescents, little work has investigated the links between parenting behavior and the neurobiological correlates of cognitive performance during this age period. In the current longitudinal fMRI study, associations between parenting behaviors and cognitive performance and brain activation across mid- and late-adolescence were assessed. Observed measures of maternal aggressive and positive behavior were recorded in early adolescence (12 years) and correlated with fMRI activation and in-scanner behavioral scores on the multi-source interference task (MSIT) during mid- (16 years; 95 participants) and late-adolescence (19 years; 75 participants). There was a significant reduction in inhibitory-control-related brain activation in posterior parietal and cingulate cortices as participants transitioned from mid- to late-adolescence. Positive maternal behavior in early-adolescence was associated with lower activation in the left parietal and DLPFC during the MSIT in mid-adolescence, whereas maternal aggressive behavior was associated with longer reaction time to incongruent trials in late-adolescence. The study supports the notion that maternal behavior may influence subsequent neurocognitive development during adolescence.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trine Pagh Pedersen ◽  
Bjørn E Holstein ◽  
Esben Meulengracht Flachs ◽  
Mette Rasmussen

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerabhadrappa Bellundagi ◽  
K.B. Umesh ◽  
B.C. Ashwini ◽  
K.R. Hamsa

PurposeIndia is facing a double burden of malnutrition, i.e. undernutrition and obesity. Women and adolescent health and nutrition are very relevant issues which have not received much attention it deserves in India, especially in the context of a girl child. Hence, the purpose of this study is to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls as well as the associated factors.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt was made to assess malnutrition among women and adolescent girls and associated factors. The required data was collected from the north (616) and south transects (659) sample households of Bangalore constituting a total sample size of 1,275. The data was analyzed by adopting multiple linear regression and multinomial logistic regression analysis using STATA software.FindingsThe effects of this study simply confirmed that, urbanization had an instantaneous effect on dietary repute of women and adolescent girls, while transferring throughout the gradient from rural to urban with the growing significance of weight problems and obese. In adolescent girls, about 31% were underweight followed by normal weight and overweight across rural–urban interface of Bangalore. The factors such as education, consumption of meat and animal products, a dummy for urban, diabetes and blood pressure were significantly and positively influencing the nutritional status (Body Mass Index) of women across rural–urban interface. While consumption of vegetables, wealth index and per capita income had a positive and significant influence on the nutritional status of adolescent girls.Originality/valueWith limited studies and data available in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Against this backdrop, the study was conducted to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among women and adolescents and its association with various socio-economic variables.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-481
Author(s):  
Mouin G. Seikaly ◽  
Richard H. Browne ◽  
Michel Baum

Background. X-linked hypophosphatemia is the most common inherited cause of rickets. Current therapy for this disorder includes vitamin D and phosphate supplementation; however, phosphate therapy has been associated with nephrocalcinosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of oral phosphate therapy on growth in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia treated with either calcitriol or dihydrotachysterol (vitamin D). Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the prepubertal growth of 36 children with X-linked hypophosphatemia. The height standard deviation score (Z-score) of patients initially treated with vitamin D alone and the Z-scores of patients treated with vitamin D and phosphate therapy were compared. In addition, the growth of patients treated with vitamin D was compared with that of patients treated with vitamin D and phosphate from the outset of therapy. Results. Patients treated with vitamin D alone for 5.36 ± 2.18 years had an improvement in Z-score from -3.18 ± 1.10 to -2.49 ± 0.66 SDS, ,P &lt; .05. Adding phosphate therapy for patients initially treated with vitamin D alone for 4.83 ± 2.99 years did not further improve Z-score (-2.49 ±0.66 vs -2.35 ± 0.83). Initial therapy with vitamin D and phosphate for 4.33 ± 2.19 years also improved Z-score, (-2.84 ± 1.02 vs -1.98 ± 0.82, P &lt; .05). The change in Z-score was similar to the group treated with vitamin D alone compared with the group treated initially with vitamin D and phosphate (0.65 ± 0.54 vs 0.85 ± 0.65, respectively). Conclusion. These data demonstrate that both vitamin D alone and in combination with phosphate improved linear growth. Adding oral phosphate for children initially treated with vitamin D alone did not improve Z-score. Initial therapy with vitamin D and vitamin D plus phosphate produced similar changes in linear growth.


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