Prevalence of Stunting and Some Related Factors in 6-year-old Children in Rafsanjan City in 2018: A Cross-Sectional Study

Height growth is one of the indicators of health level in a society that affect children’s health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of short stature and some related factors in 6-year-old children in Rafsanjan.

In this cross-sectional study, 521 children aged 6 years referring to health centers of Rafsanjan in 2018, were studied by cluster random sampling. Demographic characteristics and anthropometric variables for children and their parents were collected and their short stature was studied based on the stansards of CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention).  In short children serum levels of electrolytes, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, and 25-Hydroxy vitamin D3 were measured and bone age determination was performed. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

The prevalence of short stature was 4% (21 children) with 95% confidence interval 1.3% to 6.7%. Eleven (52.4%) were boy. The main cause of short stature in 52.4% of children (11 cases) was genetic. One case had growth hormone deficiency (4.8%) and one had hypothyroidism (4.8%). No cause for short stature was found for 38% of cases (8 cases). There was a significant positive correlation between child height and father’s height (r=0.361; p<0.001) and mother’s height (r=0.269; p<0.001)

In this study, the main cause of short stature in children was genetic causes. Knowing the causes of short stature is necessary to take timely action to correct this defect.