Socioeconomic differences in childhood length/height trajectories in a middle-income country: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with shorter adult stature. Few studies have examined socioeconomic differences in stature from birth to childhood and the mechanisms involved, particularly in middle-income former Soviet settings.

Methods

The sample included 12,463 Belarusian children (73% of the original cohort) born in 1996-1997, with up to 14 stature measurements from birth to 7 years. Linear spline multi-level models with 3 knots at 3, 12 and 34 months were used to analyse birth length and growth velocity during four age-periods by parental educational achievement (up to secondary school, advanced secondary/partial university, completed university) and occupation (manual, non-manual).

Results

Girls born to the most (versus least) educated mother

SUBMITTER: Patel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4181044 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature