Nutritional status of Saban babies and schoolchildren - abstract

ABSTRACT

Saba is a northern Caribbean island of the Netherland Antilles with a population (1986) of 1,065 persons of Caucasian and non-Caucasian descent. The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status of Saban infants (0-12 months) and school children (6-18 years). A longitudinal anthropometric study of all 83 infants born during the period June, 1980 to December, 1986 was done. At 6-weekly intervals, length was measured, using a length board and nude weight, using a Seca baby scale. During January to June, 1985, a cross sectional anthropometric study was done on 163 (M = 72, F = 91) of all 166 Saban children aged 6-18 years. Standing height, unclothed (except for underpants) body weight (n= 163) and skinfold thickness at the biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac areas (n= 143) were measured. Values of weight for age (WfA), height for age (HfA), and weight for height (WfH) obtained from Saban babies compared favourably with North American reference standards. Generally, Saban schoolgirls were "fatter" than schoolboys and female gender is significantly related to WfA. Boys were shorter and had less subcutaneous fat than girls. WfA and HfA increased with socio-economic-status. Compared to a 1956 survey, present day Saban children were on average 5 cm taller and 7 kg heavier and their nutritional status was similar to that of an industrialized country (AU)