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Anthropometric Indices and Nutritional Status of Infants in Nigeria – A Preliminary Study

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Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021) (IEA 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 223))

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Abstract

Paediatric anthropometric database is important for child product design and their public health plans. This is unavailable in Nigeria and most developing nations. This study aims to provide a preliminary anthropometric database of infants in our environment and determine how they relate with their nutritional status. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 108 infants recruited from a health centre in Enugu East LGA. Anthropometric variables (body weight; head, abdominal, chest, wrist, forearm, mid arm and mid-thigh circumferences; shoulder breadth; crown-to-rump, crown-to-sole, rump-to-sole, shoulder-to-elbow lengths etc.) were assessed using standard procedures. Nutritional status was assessed using the Weech formula and the Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) index. Data obtained were analyzed descriptively, while chi-square test was used to determine the association between variables at α = 0.05. A total of 53 females and 55 males participated in this study. Their mean age, birth weight, and total body weight were 10.64 ± 5.46 weeks, 3.30 ± 0.59 kg, and 5.61 ± 1.00 kg respectively. Their mean head, abdominal, mid-arm, and mid-thigh circumferences were 40.01 ± 1.92 cm, 42.21 ± 3.22 cm, 13.01 ± 1.22 cm, and 19.50 ± 2.47 cm respectively. The (75th, 95th) percentile of their chest circumference, mid arm circumference, shoulder breath and total body weight were (42.00 cm, 44.50 cm), (13.88 cm, 15.11 cm), (17.38 cm, 19.00 cm) and (6.30 cm, 7.56 cm) respectively. There was significant association between nutritional status [(Weech), (MUAC)] and each of chest circumference [(x2 = 52.42, p < 0.0001), (x2 = 95.88, p = 0.010)], abdominal circumference [(x2 = 68.25, p < 0.0001), (x2 = 115.58, p = 0.010)], foerarm circumference [(x2 = 45.19, p < 0.0001), (x2 = 151.90, p < 0.0001)], and wrist circumference[(x2 = 46.94, p < 0.0001), (x2 = 146.19, p < 0.0001)]. The protocol is pragmatic and some selected anthropometric variables of infants can relied upon to determine their nutritional status.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to acknowledge and appreciate the mothers and caregivers that presented their infants as participants in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Rehabilitation, FHST, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu, Chiamaka Chinyere Anyaene & Ogechukwu Ikefuna

  2. Occupational and Environmental Health Unit, IPH, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu, Emmanuel Nwabueze Aguwa & Theodora A. Okeke

  3. Lancet Physiotherapy, Wellness and Research Centre, Enugu, Nigeria

    Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu

  4. Department of Community Medicine, FMS, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Emmanuel Nwabueze Aguwa & Theodora A. Okeke

  5. Occupational Health International SOS West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Israel Chijioke Iroezindu

  6. Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University College of Medicine, Parklane, Enugu, Nigeria

    Susan U. Arinze-Onyia

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  1. Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu
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Correspondence to Echezona Nelson Dominic Ekechukwu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Département de génie mécanique, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada

    Nancy L. Black

  2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    W. Patrick Neumann

  3. Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ian Noy

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Ekechukwu, E.N.D. et al. (2022). Anthropometric Indices and Nutritional Status of Infants in Nigeria – A Preliminary Study. In: Black, N.L., Neumann, W.P., Noy, I. (eds) Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021). IEA 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 223. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74614-8_10

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