ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the growth reference value of children in our province and to compare these values with current values of the USA and other local values of our country.

Methods: A total of 615 boys and 586 girls with different socioeconomic levels and ages of 0–5 years were included in the study. In all children, weight, height, head circumference, abdominal circumference, hip circumference, mid-arm circumference, and lower segment length were taken. All measurements were performed by the same paediatrician. The lambda-mu-sigma method was used for the preparation of percentile curves.

Results: The body weight, head circumference and chest circumference measurements of boys were significantly higher than those in girls. Anthropometric measurements of children in highincome groups were higher than those in the low-income group. All of the anthropometric parameters except upper mid-arm circumference were higher in children fed with breast milk and formula milk than in children who only fed with breast milk. The relation between the mother’s education level and anthropometric parameters was insignificant.

Conclusion: Our results showed that the anthropometric measurements of our children were similar to those of west Turkey as well as those of the United States. On the other hand, our children’s anthropometric measurements were higher than other local values. Relatively high values of height have been interpreted as a genetic feature.