Abstract

LUIS, María Antonia et al. Analysis of the variability of child growth in various environments of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Rev Arg Antrop Biol [online]. 2018, vol.20, n.1, pp.1-14. ISSN 1514-7991.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17139/raab.2018.0020.01.04.

The aim of this study was to characterize and compare changes in child and adolescent growth in the districts of La Plata, Brandsen, Magdalena, and Punta Indio, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and determine their impact in urban and rural areas. A cross-sectional, anthropometric study was performed on 7,875 children aged 4.0-12.9 years. Body weight, standing and sitting height, tricipital and subscapular subcutaneous skinfolds were measured, and body mass index was calculated. Socio-environmental information regarding residence was obtained through a self-administered survey. Differences among districts were calculated with frequencies, and data were compared using Chi2 and Tukey Tests. Anthropometric data were analyzed using linear model considering the variables age, sex, and district and their interactions. The results indicated that children from Punta Indio had greater weight and body size, greater subcutaneous fat reserves, and a higher percentage of fathers and mothers had formal employment and a higher educational level. We can therefore conclude that Brandsen, Punta Indio, and Magdalena, all surrounding the metropolitan area of La Plata, present considerable socio-environmental differences, although they share similarities in their landscapes as well as in their agricultural traditions. Such heterogeneity might be reflected in growth changes in the child and adolescent population. Rev Arg Antrop Biol 20(1), 2018. doi:10.17139/raab.2018.0020.01.04

Keywords : child growth; anthropometry; rural heterogeneity.

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