Adult consequences of growth failure in early childhood.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Growth failure is associated with adverse consequences, but studies need to control adequately for confounding.

Objective

We related height-for-age z scores (HAZs) and stunting at age 24 mo to adult human capital, marriage, fertility, health, and economic outcomes.

Design

In 2002-2004, we collected data from 1338 Guatemalan adults (aged 25-42 y) who were studied as children in 1969-1977. We used instrumental variable regression to correct for estimation bias and adjusted for potentially confounding factors.

Results

A 1-SD increase in HAZ was associated with more schooling (0.78 grades) and higher test scores for reading and nonverbal cognitive skills (0.28 and 0.25 SDs, respectively), characteristics of marriage partners (1.39 y older, 1.02 grade mor

SUBMITTER: Hoddinott J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3798075 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature