RURAL AND URBAN CHILD HEIGHT AND ITS RELATION TO GEOGRAPHIC ALTITUDE IN THE PROVINCE OF JUJUY (ARGENTINA)

DIPIERRI, J.; BEJARANO, I.; ALFARO, E.; SPIONE, C.

Acta Medica Auxologica

Año: 1998 vol. 30 p. 11 - 17

Geograpbical altitude is a factor exerting a continuous and unavoidable action on tbe somatic growtb and development of populations. Among auxologic standards, beigbt is tbe one tbat best summarizes tbe interaction betweeng enetic and environmental factors. 1;Jisw orkis aimed at assessings tature variations in tbe cbild's beigbt (6-8-year-olds) in terms of rural and urban environments in tbe province of fujuy, in tbe nortb-west of Argentina.. Tbe data were obtainedfrom tbe 1993 Heigbt Census of First Grade Scbool Cbildren, by wbicb 15,373 cbildren residing in rural and urban zones of tbe bigblands (HL) (between 2,500 and 4,500 m altitude), and lowlands (LL) (between 2,500 and 500 m altitude) were evaluated. Tbe following statistical data were determined: mean beigbt standardized, mean beigbt percentile, standard deviation, minimum and maximum beigbt values. ANOVA and Scbeffé's test were used to establisb beigbt differences between urban and rural zones, and HI/LL. In botb sexes and at all ages, tbe mean beigbt of rural populations in HL and LL was lower tban tbe national mean; a similar bebaviour was found in urban populations, except for tbe 6-year-old group of LL cbildren. Tbere were statistically significant differences in beigbt (p<0.05) between rural and urhan zones for botb sexes and for all age groups in LL, wbile for HL, tbese differences were observed only at tbe age of 6 years in botb sexes. Our results would indicate tbat in tbe fujeño populations analyzed, geogrqpbic altitude would influence tbe cbild's beigbt regardless of wbetber tbe environment is rural or urban one.