Annals of Human Biology
Volume 38, Issue 5, 2011, Pages 544-555

Comparison of growth between native and immigrant infants between 0-3 years from the Dutch ABCD cohort (Article)

Hof M.H.P.* , Van Dijk A.E. , Van Eijsden M. , Vrijkotte T.G.M. , Zwinderman A.H.
  • a Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 22660, 1100 DE Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD), Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • e Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 22660, 1100 DE Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Background: In the Netherlands separate reference charts have been developed for native and immigrant groups to deal with differences in growth patterns in later childhood. The use of these charts, however, is complicated by methodological issues; they do not represent all large Dutch immigrant groups in separate charts despite the differences that have been suggested and the evidence of ethnic disparities in growth dates back to 1997. Aim: Anthropometric measurements from a contemporary multi-ethnic cohort study were created to quantify differences in childhood growth by creating growth charts, separately for boys and girls between the ages of 0-3 years. Subjects and methods: The infants modelled in the charts had a mother born in the Netherlands (n = 3107), Suriname (n = 225), Turkey (n = 203) and Morocco (n = 336). Charts with and without correction for country of origin of the mother were created by using the LMST method. Results: All models including the covariate country of origin of the mother fitted the data better (p < 0.0005), but the observed differences were small. Conclusion: Most remarkable differences were found in the BMI and weight measurements for age charts. Especially girls from mothers born in Turkey and Morocco had an increasingly heavier weight for their age than girls from mothers born in the Netherlands. © Informa UK, Ltd.

Author Keywords

reference values growth charts Cohort studies Ethnic groups

Index Keywords

Models, Biological biological model Netherlands sex-related difference physiology growth rate human cephalometry Cohort Studies Population Groups ethnic group comparative study ethnic and racial groups indigenous population racial disparity Humans Infant, Newborn male Emigrants and Immigrants preschool child female Infant Child, Preschool Multivariate Analysis newborn Mothers maternal effect Growth and Development child health Article mother migration body weight cohort analysis growth, development and aging body mass body height Body Mass Index Reference Values reference value immigrant population
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80051747026&doi=10.3109%2f03014460.2011.576701&partnerID=40&md5=a208772e4a1995bb59b4ce38073d987e
DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2011.576701
ISSN: 03014460
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English