Study of head and chest growth and their equalization in Churachandpur, Manipur during the first year of life
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20223562Keywords:
Head circumference, Chest circumference, EqualizationAbstract
Background: The study of head and chest circumferences and the subsequent age at equalization, when studying infant growth, played a vital role in a community as it helps in identifying those who are susceptible to nutritional issues. Keeping in view the importance, a journey was embarked upon with the object of finding out the growth of head and chest circumferences as well as their age of equalization among the tribal infants in Churachandpur, Manipur.
Methods: Using longitudinal setting, infants taken into account were full term born and measurements were recorded within 24 hours of birth from maternity clinics and hospitals in Churachandpur. The growth pattern of head and chest circumferences were measured independently from birth till the child attained 1 year of age at monthly interval following standard techniques given by Weiner and Lourie by using a narrow, flexible, non-stretch steel tape calibrated in centimetres.
Results: Observation of earlier equalization of head and chest circumferences is recorded among the tribal group studied. After the observation of equalization, chest circumference remains larger than head circumference in both sexes throughout the first year of life, which signifies a good growth among the infant group studied.
Conclusions: It can be recommended from the present study the use of head and chest circumference for identifying vulnerable infant/children from their nutritional standpoint in any kind of settings as it is easily accessible and cost effective. The present study shows a positive secular trend when compared with other available literatures.
References
Spyrides MHC, Struchiner CJ, Barbosa MTS, Kac G. The effect of breastfeeding practices on infant growth. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant. 2005;5:145-53.
Dean RFA. Effects of malnutrition, especially of slight degree, on the growth of young children. Courrier. 1965;15:73-83.
Martorell R, Yarbrough C, Malina RM, Habicht JP, Lechtig A, Klein RE. The head circumference chest circumference ratio in mild-to-moderate protein-calorie malnutrition. J Trop Pediatr Environ Child Health. 1975;21(4):203-7.
Grierson GA. Linguistic Survey of India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. 1967.
Weiner JS, Lourie JA. Practical Human Biology. London: Academic Press. 1981.
Wolanski N. Methods of control of the physical development of children and youth. PZWL, Warszawa. 1965.
Ghai OP, Sandhu RK. Study of physical growth of Indian children in Delhi. Indian J Pediatr. 1968;35:91-108.
Datta Banik ND, Krishna R, Mane SIS, Raj L, Tasker AD. A longitudinal study of physical growth of children from birth upto five years of age in Delhi. Indian J Med Res. 1970;58:135-42.
Mehta K, Merchant SM. Physical growth of children in first year of life in higher and lower socio-economic classes of Bombay city. Indian Pediatr. 1972;9:751-4.
Agarwal DK, Agarwal KN. Physical growth in Indian affluent children (birth-6 years). Indian Pediatr. 1994;31(4):377-413.
Vaughan VC. Growth and development. In: Vaughan VC, Mckay RJ, Editors. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 10th edition. W.B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia. 1975.
Watson EH, Lowery GH. Growth and development of children. 5th edition. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers. 1967.
Bhalla AK. A longitudinal study of body growth of Punjabi children during the first year of life. Unpublished PhD thesis submitted at Panjab University, Chandigarh. 1983.
Sundaram KR, Seth V, Jena TK, Shukla DK. Age at which chest circumference overtakes head circumference in children. Indian J Pediatr. 1995;62(1):89-94.
