Stature, Weight of Children, Adolescents Age (6-19 Years) and Menarcheal Age of Hausa Girls Resident in Kano State
Chapter One
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
Aim
This study aimed to describe the pattern of growth in Stature, weight and leg length of Hausa children and adolescents aged 6-19 years and to describe the menarcheal age pattern of menstruating girls from Kano State.
Objectives of Study
The objectives of the present study are as follows:
- establish the age of Height growth spurt of Hausas 6-19 years from Kano State
- establish the age of leg (Subischial) length growth spurt of Hausas 6-19 years from Kano State
- investigate the relationship between growth in stature with sex and age
- establish the average BMI of Hausas 6-19 years from Kano States
- establish commencement of menarche in Hausas
- investigate the relationship between menarcheal age with height
- investigate the relationship between growth in stature with parental level of Education
- investigate the relationship between growth in stature with birth order
- establish an equation for the prediction of height using sitting height measurement
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH
Optimal growth depends on genetic constitution, normal endocrine function, adequate nutrition, a nurturing environment, and an absence of chronic disease. Fetal, infant, maternal, and environmental factors can interact to impair intrauterine and postnatal growth (Pinyerd, 1992). Genetic differences in birth-weight among various populations are small and, although there are some racial/ethnic differences in growth, these differences are now known to be relatively minor, compared to worldwide variations in growth which are due to health and environmental influences (e.g. poor nutrition, infectious disease, socio-economic status) (Habichtet al., 1974; Mei and Yip, 1989; Martorell, Medoza and Castillo, 1989).
Child growth is internationally recognized as an important indicator of nutritional status and health in populations (WHO, 1995; Gelander, 2006). Growth monitoring is an integral component of preventive and primary care pediatrics to evaluate individual children, and is a useful public health tool to assess child health status and economic development in the society (Cole, 2006; Victoraet al., 2008).
GROWTH MONITORING
The main objectives of growth monitoring and promotion ofoptimal growth are to: (i) provide a tool for nutrition and health evaluation ofindividual children. (ii)Initiate effective action in response to abnormal patterns of growth. (iii)Teach parents how nutrition, physical activity, genetics and illness can affect growth and, in doing so, motivate and facilitate individual initiative and improved childcare practices. (iv) Provide regular contact with primary health care services and facilitate their utilization (Garner, Panpanich and Logan, 2000; Ashworth, Shrimpton and Jamil, 2008).
There are five main activities linked to growth monitoringand promotion at the individual level (Ashworth, Shrimpton and Jamil, 2008):(i) accurately measuring weight, length or height, and headcircumference, (ii) precisely plotting measurements on the appropriate,validated growth chart (iii)correctly interpreting the child’s pattern of growth
(iv) discussing the child’s growth pattern with the parent(s)/caregiver and agreeing on subsequent action whenrequired (v) on-going monitoring and follow-up, when required,to evaluate the response to the recommended action toimprove the child’s growth.
IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS ANDPLOTTING
Accurate, reliable measurements are fundamental to growth monitoring and to making sound clinical judgements on the appropriateness of a child’s pattern of growth. A number ofstudies have illustrated a disturbing frequency of inaccurate growth measurements in a variety of health care settings (Cooney, Pathak and Watson, 1994; Bunting and Weaver 1997; Chen and Shiffman, 2000; Spencer et al., 1996). Accurate measurements have three components: a standardized measurement technique; quality equipment which is regularly calibrated and accurate and trained measurers who are reliable and precise in their technique (Henry, 1992; WHO, 1995). Reliable growth data does not require expensive equipment, just careful technique and accurate charting. Information on the appropriate equipment and techniques for accurate weighing and measuring is readily available(CDC, 2009; CDC, 2001). A child’s measurements should be consistently and accurately recorded in an age and gender-appropriate growth record, carefully plotted and then analyzed to identify any disturbances in the pattern of growth. Failure to plot measurements and/or document growth abnormalities also contribute to missed opportunities to identify and address nutrition or illness related growth problems (Chen and Shiffman, 2000; Voelker, 2007).
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
STUDY LOCATION/DURATION
The study was conducted in 20 Local Governmentareas (LGAs) of Kano state. Three local governments were randomly selected from each of the northern, southern, eastern and western parts of the state and all the eight metropolitant LGAs were considered for the research. The research was conducted in both primary and secondary schools of the concerned LGAs.
Kano state is located in North-Western Nigeria. The capital of Kano State is Kano with 44 LGAs. Coordinates11°30′N 8°30′E,created on May 27, 1967 from part of the Northern Region, Kano state bordersKatsinaState to the north-west, Jigawa State to the north-east, Bauchi State to the south-east and Kaduna State to the south-west.
Historically, Kano State has been a commercial and agricultural state, which is known for the production of groundnuts as well as for its solid mineral deposits. The state has more than 18,684 square kilometersof cultivable land and is the most extensively irrigated state in the country. The official language of Kano state is English but Hausa is the major and widely spoken language. According to the NPC 2006 census figures Kano state had a population totaling 9,383,682.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULTS
ANALYSES OF STUDY POPULATION
The scope of this study was restricted to children and adolescents from Kano State. 2,490 children and adolescents (1356 females and 1134 males) aged 6-19 years, randomly selected constituted the analytic subjects. Data were recorded after obtaining necessary permission from relevant authorityof the state (after reviewing the study protocols (guidelines))and from authorities of participating schools.Data pertaining to age, sex, date of birth, state of origin, local government, and birth order were collected using a predesigned questionnaires. For adolescent female subjects, data pertaining menstrual cycle, length of menstrual blood flow and menarcheal age were collected. The anthropometrics including height, weight, sitting height, leg length of each subject were measured using stadiometer, mechanical weighing machine and measuring tape following standard technique by trained investigators.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION
Height growth spurt for Hausas in this research was found to be between the ages of twelve and thirteen (12 and 13) years for both sexes .This partly agreed with (Bogin, 2010), who reported a growth spurt at an average of twelve (12) years and ten (10) years for boys and girls respectively. However, our findings disagreed with findings of (Steinberg, 2008), who reported that males have their growth spurt two (2) years later than males. Leg length growth spurt for the two sexes was found to be also between the age of twelve and thirteen years which proceed with females having longer legs.
Male children up to age of ten (10) and females up to the age of eleven (11) in this research work were found to be of BMI<18.50 kg/m² (underweight, WHO). While adolescents of both sexes were found to be averagely of BMI between 18.50 and 29.90 kg/m², normal weight, (WHO, 2000). Prevalence of obesity was not found on the average. BMI was found to be progressively increasing with age with female adolescents significantly having higher BMI than their male counterparts. This supported the findings of (Ansa et al., 2001) who conducted a research on BMI profile in Calabar, Nigeria, and that of (Perrissinotto, et al., 2002). Hausa females, particularly adolescents lived a sedentary life style compared to their male counterparts. This could explain the higher BMI in female adolescents.
CHAPTER SIX
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
Summary
The study population could be described as following a normal pattern of growth with normal progressive increase in the anthropometric parameters with regards to age. Females were on the average having higher values of anthropometric parameters especially at adolescence (except sitting height). Growth spurts particularly of stature among the study population were established.
Level of weight in accordance with the WHO BMI classification (under weight, normal weight, over weight and obese) was established among Hausa children and adolescents in the Kano state with children on the average falling within the under weight category and adolescents within the normal range. Relationships of both BMI and other anthropometric parameters with parental level of education and birth order were established. Likewise correlations of the anthropometric parameters were developed.
The minimum menarcheal age (12) years, maximum menarcheal age (17) years and mean menarcheal age (14) years of the menstruating Hausa girls were found. Means of menstrual cycle (days) and that of the length of menstrual blood flow (days) were found to be within the normal physiological range.
Linear regression equations for prediction of stature using other anthropometric parameters in both children and adolescents were established.
CONCLUSION
Height growth spurt of Hausa children and adolescents 6-19 years from Kano state is between the ages of 12years and 13 years for both sexes. Children were observed to be underweight while adolescents were observed to have normal weights
Stature of Hausa children and adolescents from Kano state can be predicted if the age, weight, BMI, sitting height or leg length is known using the linear regression equation established in the research work
Mean menarcheal age of Hausa menstruating girls from Kano state is 14.00 years, mean menstrual cycle is 28.30 days and mean length of menstrual blood flow is 4.20 days
Parental level of education and birth order of Hausa children and adolescents 12-19 years from Kano state correlate positively with the measured parameters, also all the measured parameters correlate with each other.
Recommendation
From the foregoing it is recommended that:
The government of Kano state and other well-meaning appropriate bodies should come up with a concrete programme that would be mainly concerned with child nutrition empowerment
Mothers should receive adequate and solid knowledge on child care and proper handling
Similar but broader research that would in addition to our parameters take into consideration, parental level of income, number of people in the house, social amenities available, type of settlement e.t.c be conducted
Child record like birth weight, mortality and other related records be kept and made available to researchers on request with a view to describing growth pattern and provide solutions to growth problems
Researchers put hands together in elucidating the mechanism as to how birth order and parental level of education affect growth with a view to enhancing growth and development of children and adolescents
The use of equations derived in this project with a view to finding BMI of children and adolescents particularly those with lower limb deformity without demanding any sophistications
This project should serve as a reference point to anthropologist, clinicians and researchers.
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