Low head circumference during early childhood and its predictors in a semi-urban settlement of Vellore, Southern India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stunting in developing countries continues to be a major public health problem. Measuring head circumference (HC) during clinical anthropometric assessment can help predict stunting. The aim of this study was to assess burden and determine the predictors of low HC (<- 2 SD) at birth and during first 2 years of life in a semi- urban settlement of Vellore.

Methods

The study uses baseline data and serial HC measurements from the birth cohort of MAL-ED study, where 228 children from Vellore completed follow-up between March 2010 to February 2014. Analysis of baseline, maternal and paternal characteristics, micro-nutrient status and cognition with HC measurements was performed using STATA version 13.0 software.

Results

The mean HC (±SD) at 1st, 12th and 24th mon

SUBMITTER: Sindhu KN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6552319 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature