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Nutritional status of children from Papua New Guinea: Associations with socioeconomic factors

Growth faltering has been well documented in children from Papua New Guinea, although there is evidence that broad processes of modernization, such as cash cropping, have resulted in increased body size. It is not clear, however, what household socioeconomic factors may be associated with larger body size in populations undergoing early stages of modernization. This cross‐sectional study examined the nutritional status of children between birth and 5 years of age living near Kanabea, Papua New Guinea, a relatively remote outpost in the highland fringe experiencing a limited cash economy. Weight and height were measured on 260 children from 190 households. The mean z‐scores of −2.26 ± 1.50 (SD) for height‐for‐age, −2.43 ± 1.25 for weight‐for‐age, and −1.34 ± 1.49 for weight‐for‐height are suggestive of both acute and chronic malnutrition. Using a cut‐off value of ≤ −2SD, 68.8% of the children were stunted and/or wasted. These values are similar to those from a 1992–93 survey in the district, revealing that malnutrition remains a problem in the area. In this largely traditional horticultural group, educated mothers and mothers who spoke pidgin and/or English in addition to the local language had children with better z‐scores. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:659–668, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.