A longitudinal study in body weight of Pakistani infants as influenced by socioeconomic status

Gender differences in nutritional status and feeding patterns among infants in the Gaza Strip

OBJECTIVES

This study examined gender variation in nutritional treatment and anthropometric status of infants in the Gaza Strip. Numerous studies have documented gender differences in health status in developing areas, generally finding boys to be at an advantage over girls. Social and economic characteristics in Gaza suggest that one might expect preferential treatment of boys there.

METHODS

The study used data on two samples of infants 0 to 18 months of age collected from five health centers in Gaza. A variety of different analytic methods were used to look for gender differences in feeding patterns, prevalence of malnutrition, and anthropometric status.

RESULTS

Although some differences in nutritional treatment and anthropometric outcome for infants of different socioeconomic status and between the earlier and later samples were found, no consistent gender differences were revealed.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings are consistent with several different explanations. First, expectations of finding gender differences may have been unfounded. Alternatively, such differences may have existed previously but have been eliminated through successful public health intervention, rising levels of education, and economic development.

Epidemiological co-relates of low birth weight in rural Tamil Nadu

A total of 328 consecutive births born between July and September 1990 were analysed. The rate of LBW was 24.6%. The mean birth weight was 2.72 kg (+/- 0.44 kg). Association between LBW and parity, mother's age, mother's height, gestational weight, risk status at pregnancy and antenatal care was observed. These results indicate that there is a need to strengthen maternal services to address the problem of LBW in India.