Growth of normal urban black Southern African children aged 6-19 years

Abstract

Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and height gain were studied in two-thousand normal urban black Southern African schoolchildren from Umtata, Republic of Transkei, Southern Africa. The height-for-age data in the present study were less than those of the USA National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) data and the overall distribution of height for age was between the 3rd and 75th percentiles of NCHS. In boys, after the age of 13 years, the weight-for-age data in the present study were statistically less than NCHS and the overall distribution of weight-for-age data was between the 10th and 75th percentiles of NCHS. The weight for height in the present study was slightly greater than NCHS and the overall distribution of weight for height data was between 25th and 90th percentiles of NCHS. Adolescent growth spurt occurred in girls at the age of around 11 years, while in boys it occurred around 12 years. The mean duration of the pubertal period was 2 years for boys and girls. Peak height velocity (PHV) was 7.7 and 7.9 cm/year in boys and girls, respectively. The present study may be used a source of reference for urban black schoolchildren in Africa.