Table 1.
Mean values and changes in anthropometric indicators during the dry and rainy season among children aged 6–23 months, Niakhar, Senegal, 1983–1984
| Overall value | Change in rainy season, May to Nov (n 1815) | Change in dry season, Nov to May (n 988) | Difference, rainy – dry season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicator | Mean | Mean | sd | Mean | sd | P value | Significance |
| Arm circumference based | |||||||
| MUAC (cm) | 13·751 | −0·285 | 1·124 | +0·522 | 1·063 | <10−10 | * |
| Muscle circumference (cm) | 11·242 | −0·191 | 0·889 | +0·362 | 0·863 | <10−10 | * |
| Weight and height based | |||||||
| Weight-for-height Z-score | −1·134 | −0·401 | 1·073 | +0·211 | 1·008 | <10−10 | * |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 15·676 | −0·549 | 1·330 | +0·179 | 1·296 | <10−10 | * |
| Weight based | |||||||
| Weight-for-age Z-score | −1·780 | −0·461 | 0·889 | +0·070 | 0·753 | <10−10 | * |
| Weight (kg) | 8·521 | +0·712 | 0·812 | +1·129 | 0·736 | <10−10 | * |
| Fat based | |||||||
| Triceps skinfold (mm) | 7·982 | −0·295 | 1·934 | +0·506 | 1·891 | <10−10 | * |
| Subscapular skinfold (mm) | 6·499 | −0·398 | 1·683 | −0·273 | 1·649 | 0·056 | |
| Based on linear growth | |||||||
| Height (cm) | 73·512 | +4·262 | 1·796 | +4·415 | 1·713 | 0·027 | * |
| Head circumference (cm) | 45·246 | +0·983 | 0·736 | +0·973 | 0·828 | 0.763 | |
MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference.
*P < 0·05 (standard t tests).
Corresponding values in 2006 WHO growth standard: change = −0·261 (sd 1·039) in rainy season and change = +0·342 (sd 0·987) in dry season for weight-for-height Z-score; change = −0·429 (sd 0·818) in rainy season and change = +0·153 (sd 0·754) in dry season for weight-for-age Z-score.