Vekstutvikling blant barn under 15 måneder i Moshi, Tanzania

Abstract

Background. We wanted to study the growth of a population of children in Moshi, Tanzania, to see how they were developing. We also wanted to study how they were growing compared to Norwegian children. Our approach to this question is: How does the growth in children under 15 months of age in Moshi, Tanzania, compare to that of Norwegian children in the same age-group? Are there significant differences?

Material and methods. 151 out of 1500 children at two clinics in Moshi were selected. These children had been to every health control up to 15 months of age. Height, weight and head circumference measurements from every control was noted and graphically described. We compared the results with growth charts used in Moshi and Norway respectively.

Results. Compared with growth charts used in Moshi, both girls and boys cluster around the 50th percentile. There is a tendency to a fall in percentiles from the age of 6 months. Compared with growth charts used in Norway, both girls and boys are around the 25th percentile. We see the same tendency of fall in percentiles from 6 months. At 15 months the girls` height is on the 10th percentile, their weight is on the 25th percentile and their head circumference is between the 10th and 25th percentiles. At 15 months the boys` height, weight and head circumference are all around the 10th percentile.

Conclusion. In our study wee see a tendency that the children in Moshi are somewhat smaller than the average Norwegian child. Multiple factors can explain this. But, our study is too small to give a definite conclusion.