Predictors of height in Romanian infants 6–23 months old: findings from a national representative sample

Author:

Stativa Ecaterina1,Rus Adrian V2ORCID,Lee Wesley C2,Salinas Kailei A D3,Cossey Hannah M2,Lobo Austin4,Nanu Michaela1

Affiliation:

1. The National Institute for Mother and Child Health ‘Alessandrescu-Rusescu’ , Bucharest , Romania

2. Southwestern Christian University , Oklahoma , USA

3. Mid America Christian University , Oklahoma , USA

4. Sacramento , CA , USA

Abstract

Abstract Background The research explored the association between infants’ height and various demographic factors in Romania, a country where such critical information has been lacking. Methods This study was conducted on a nationally representative sample and used a family physicians database to determine a sample of 1532 children (713 girls and 819 boys) 6–23 months of age (M = 14.26; SD = 5.15). Infants’ height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) were calculated using the World Health Organization’s computing algorithm. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate whether certain risk factors, such as infant mother’s age, location, marital status, socioeconomic status (SES), as well as infant’s term status at birth, age, anemia, minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and birth order, could significantly predict the HAZ. Results The study identified several significant predictors of height. Specifically, lower HAZ was associated with rural living, preterm birth, age 18–23 months, unmarried mothers, anemia, lack of MDD and being third or later born in the family. In contrast, higher HAZ was associated with medium or high maternal SES and older maternal age. Conclusions The study underscores the importance of addressing these significant risk factors through distinct interventions to improve height outcomes in at-risk Romanian populations.

Funder

National Institute for Mother and Child Health

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,General Medicine

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