Cross-sectional survey of growth of urban and rural "cape coloured" schoolchildren: anthropometry and functional tests

Abstract

The patterns of physical growth (height, weight, length of body segments, circumferences, and widths) and function (grip strength, reflexes, and pulse rates) of "Cape Coloured" schoolchildren were studied. Urban and rural groups were selected with maximum contrasting socioeconomic status (SES). Data were collected between 1986 and 1988 and included 906 males and 1,068 females of high SES between 5 and 20 years in the Cape Town urban area and 834 males and 940 females of low SES between 5 and 19 years in the Little Karoo region. Means and standard deviations of 20 characteristics by age are presented separately for males and females and urban and rural groups. The heights and weights of prepubertal urban children match American reference data, but postpubertally they decline somewhat, whereas these measurements of the rural children consistently lie ∼1 standard deviation below the urban group. Skinfold thicknesses of urban children match or exceed the American reference, implying that their nutritional needs are being met well. Functional indicators of rural children are much poorer than those of urban children. The results of the urban children may provide a target for the improvement in growth status of rural children. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:73-85, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.