Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort
Abstract Background Childhood is a period marked by dynamic growth. Evidence of the association between childhood linear growth and school achievement comes mostly from cross-sectional data. We assessed associations between birth length, childhood linear growth velocities, and stunting with school a...
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2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20875-1 |
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| author | Rahma Ali Beakal Zinab Bikila S. Megersa Daniel Yilma Tsinuel Girma Alemseged Abdissa Melkamu Berhane Bitiya Admasu Suzanne Filteau Dorothea Nitsch Henrik Friis Jonathan C. K. Wells Gregers S. Andersen Mubarek Abera Mette F. Olsen Rasmus Wibaek Akanksha A. Marphatia |
| author_facet | Rahma Ali Beakal Zinab Bikila S. Megersa Daniel Yilma Tsinuel Girma Alemseged Abdissa Melkamu Berhane Bitiya Admasu Suzanne Filteau Dorothea Nitsch Henrik Friis Jonathan C. K. Wells Gregers S. Andersen Mubarek Abera Mette F. Olsen Rasmus Wibaek Akanksha A. Marphatia |
| author_sort | Rahma Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Childhood is a period marked by dynamic growth. Evidence of the association between childhood linear growth and school achievement comes mostly from cross-sectional data. We assessed associations between birth length, childhood linear growth velocities, and stunting with school achievement. Methods Newborns were recruited into the Ethiopian infant Anthropometry and Body Composition (iABC) birth cohort and followed from birth to 10 years. Velocities from 0 to 6 years were computed using linear spline mixed effect modelling. Stunting (height-for-age < -2 z-scores) was assessed at the ages of 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 years. School achievement was measured by having a high (≥ 80%) combined high math, English, and science (MES) score and being at appropriate grade-for-age. Logistic regression models assessed associations between birth length, linear growth velocities and stunting with school achievement. Results Children’s mean age was 9.8 years (standard deviation, SD 1.0, range 7–12 years). A 1 SD greater birth length increased the odds of achieving a high MES combined score by 1.42 (95% CI: 0.99, 2.03). A 1 SD increase in linear growth velocity from 6 to 24 months increased the odds of being in the appropriate grade-for-age by 1.66 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.43). Stunting at ages 4 and 6 years was associated with lower odds of achieving a high MES combined score: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.89), respectively. Faster post-natal linear growth was not associated with school achievement. Conclusion Greater birth length and higher growth velocity from 6 to 24 months were associated with higher school achievement and being in the appropriate grade-for-age, respectively. Children who experienced growth failure were less likely to achieve a high MES score. Interventions aimed at improving school achievement should address maternal and fetal nutrition and health, and monitor post-natal growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-19f98faba7b74eb7b395cef1250a86b0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj-art-19f98faba7b74eb7b395cef1250a86b02024-12-22T12:52:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-12-0124111110.1186/s12889-024-20875-1Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohortRahma Ali0Beakal Zinab1Bikila S. Megersa2Daniel Yilma3Tsinuel Girma4Alemseged Abdissa5Melkamu Berhane6Bitiya Admasu7Suzanne Filteau8Dorothea Nitsch9Henrik Friis10Jonathan C. K. Wells11Gregers S. Andersen12Mubarek Abera13Mette F. Olsen14Rasmus Wibaek15Akanksha A. Marphatia16Department of Population and Family health, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma UniversityDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of CopenhagenDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma UniversityDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma UniversityArmauer Hansen Research InstituteDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma UniversityDepartment of Population and Family health, Faculty of Public Health, Jimma UniversityFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineFaculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of CopenhagenPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthClinical Research, Steno Diabetes Center CopenhagenDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jimma UniversityDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of CopenhagenClinical and Translational Research, Copenhagen University Hospital – Steno Diabetes CenterPopulation, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthAbstract Background Childhood is a period marked by dynamic growth. Evidence of the association between childhood linear growth and school achievement comes mostly from cross-sectional data. We assessed associations between birth length, childhood linear growth velocities, and stunting with school achievement. Methods Newborns were recruited into the Ethiopian infant Anthropometry and Body Composition (iABC) birth cohort and followed from birth to 10 years. Velocities from 0 to 6 years were computed using linear spline mixed effect modelling. Stunting (height-for-age < -2 z-scores) was assessed at the ages of 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 years. School achievement was measured by having a high (≥ 80%) combined high math, English, and science (MES) score and being at appropriate grade-for-age. Logistic regression models assessed associations between birth length, linear growth velocities and stunting with school achievement. Results Children’s mean age was 9.8 years (standard deviation, SD 1.0, range 7–12 years). A 1 SD greater birth length increased the odds of achieving a high MES combined score by 1.42 (95% CI: 0.99, 2.03). A 1 SD increase in linear growth velocity from 6 to 24 months increased the odds of being in the appropriate grade-for-age by 1.66 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.43). Stunting at ages 4 and 6 years was associated with lower odds of achieving a high MES combined score: 0.43 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.89), respectively. Faster post-natal linear growth was not associated with school achievement. Conclusion Greater birth length and higher growth velocity from 6 to 24 months were associated with higher school achievement and being in the appropriate grade-for-age, respectively. Children who experienced growth failure were less likely to achieve a high MES score. Interventions aimed at improving school achievement should address maternal and fetal nutrition and health, and monitor post-natal growth.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20875-1Linear growth velocityStuntingSchool achievementGrade-for-ageEthiopia |
| spellingShingle | Rahma Ali Beakal Zinab Bikila S. Megersa Daniel Yilma Tsinuel Girma Alemseged Abdissa Melkamu Berhane Bitiya Admasu Suzanne Filteau Dorothea Nitsch Henrik Friis Jonathan C. K. Wells Gregers S. Andersen Mubarek Abera Mette F. Olsen Rasmus Wibaek Akanksha A. Marphatia Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort BMC Public Health Linear growth velocity Stunting School achievement Grade-for-age Ethiopia |
| title | Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort |
| title_full | Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort |
| title_fullStr | Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort |
| title_short | Association between birth length, linear growth velocities, and primary school achievement at age 10 years: evidence from the Ethiopian iABC birth cohort |
| title_sort | association between birth length linear growth velocities and primary school achievement at age 10 years evidence from the ethiopian iabc birth cohort |
| topic | Linear growth velocity Stunting School achievement Grade-for-age Ethiopia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20875-1 |
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