Noël Cameron
Human growth, nutrition, and health status in sub-Saharan Africa
University of the Witwatersrand
subsaharan africa ssa greatest population growth rates highest levels infant child mortality poorest economies world physical quality life index developed countries 80 yet 33 ssa countries ranges 20566 routine monitoring growth nutritional status children demonstrates health status proportion low birth weight infants high ssa countries levels 1020 even though average birth weight consistently rose 1980s ssa range smallest largest mean birth weights lower medians developed counties moreover 40 5 year olds mild moderately malnourished evidenced growth retardation biochemical changes yet exhibit clinical signs symptoms besides diarrhea often exacerbates malnutrition childhood adolescence growth patterns particularly among rural turkana pastoralists steadily deviate 50th centile us norms thus almost 50 early adolescents rural areas 5th centile studies found pastoralist children tend begin slightly 5th centile us norms gradually fall peak growth velocities among ssa children low postpeak velocities higher equal velocities children developed countries thus adult heights 5th50th centiles throughout childhood adolescence us blacks higher absolute levels subcutaneous fat children ssa yet main centralized patterning fat ssa children basically equals us blacks invariably less marginal whites conclusion adverse socioeconomic conditions ssa result low levels health growth phases thereby confounding genetic potential