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

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.

Keywords: Romanian infants; height (height-for-age z-scores); public health.