اختلاف قد و وزن كودكان و نوجوانان شهري و روستايي و مقايسه آن در دو بررسي سلامت و بيماري كشوري [در سالهاي 1370-1369 و 1378]

Urban-rural difference in weights and heights of children and its trend during two National Health Surveys (1991 and1999)

Background: Growth studies show that height and weight of boys and girls are greater in urban compared with rural. However, the study of urban-rural differences in growth over time has been always of interest. In this study, in addition to the evaluation of urban-rural growth difference of Iranian children, its trend over a decade (1991-1999) has been studied. method: Data from two Iranian National Health Surveys 1990-1 and 1999 were used to evaluation of urban-rural growth difference in children 2-18 year olds and its comparison in two surveys. Results: In all ages, height and weight of boys and girls are significantly greater in urban compared with rural. Urban-rural differences in height and weight in 1999 compared to the 1990-1 differed significantly in either sex. The increase in median differences of weights and heights of girls and boys over this period were 0.151 and 0.191 kg and 0.1 cm respectively (p<0.0001). Although, the corresponding relative difference increase ranged 0.2% to 1%. Conclusion: Although, urban children have better growth status than rural but the differences in height and weight over the period of study, are not clinically appreciable.