Household resources and seasonal patterns of child growth in rural Timor-Leste

Phoebe R. Spencer; Katherine A. Sanders; Pedro Canisio Amaral; Debra S. Judge

doi:10.1002/ajhb.22916

Household resources and seasonal patterns of child growth in rural Timor-Leste

Phoebe R. Spencer, Katherine A. Sanders, Pedro Canisio Amaral, Debra S. Judge

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine through detailed contextual investigation the effects of seasonal resource shortages, and household and individual level differences, on child growth in rural Timor-Leste. We compared trends in growth across two rural Timorese villages with different ecologies.

MethodsHeads of 104 households in Natarbora, Timor-Leste, were interviewed and resource levels assessed during the food shortage season. In these households, 337 children were measured for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. World Health Organization standardized measures were calculated and compared with dry season measurements. Using hierarchical linear models, child growth was related to household resource levels. Results were then compared to data from rural mountainous Ossu, Timor-Leste.

Resultsz BMI declined over the wet season when food resources were scarce compared with the dry season (P

ConclusionsResults highlight the importance of subsistence-based resource stabilization and of early intervention to prevent growth faltering. Predicting growth using ecological models requires small-scale investigation, as variation exists among rural areas within an ecologically and culturally diverse country.

Original language	English
Article number	e22916
Number of pages	17
Journal	American Journal of Human Biology
Volume	29
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22916
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2017

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10.1002/ajhb.22916

Survival & Growth of Children in Rural East Timor - The Influences of Family Structure Resources & Local Environment on Child Outcomes
Judge, D. (Investigator 01), Schmitt, L. (Investigator 02), Sanders, K. (Investigator 03) & Oxnard, C. (Investigator 04)
ARC Australian Research Council
1/01/12 → 1/06/16
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Household resources and seasonal patterns of child growth in rural Timor-Leste",

abstract = "ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine through detailed contextual investigation the effects of seasonal resource shortages, and household and individual level differences, on child growth in rural Timor-Leste. We compared trends in growth across two rural Timorese villages with different ecologies.MethodsHeads of 104 households in Natarbora, Timor-Leste, were interviewed and resource levels assessed during the food shortage season. In these households, 337 children were measured for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. World Health Organization standardized measures were calculated and compared with dry season measurements. Using hierarchical linear models, child growth was related to household resource levels. Results were then compared to data from rural mountainous Ossu, Timor-Leste.Resultsz BMI declined over the wet season when food resources were scarce compared with the dry season (PConclusionsResults highlight the importance of subsistence-based resource stabilization and of early intervention to prevent growth faltering. Predicting growth using ecological models requires small-scale investigation, as variation exists among rural areas within an ecologically and culturally diverse country.",

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author = "Spencer, {Phoebe R.} and Sanders, {Katherine A.} and {Canisio Amaral}, Pedro and Judge, {Debra S.}",

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AU - Spencer, Phoebe R.

AU - Sanders, Katherine A.

AU - Canisio Amaral, Pedro

AU - Judge, Debra S.

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N2 - ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine through detailed contextual investigation the effects of seasonal resource shortages, and household and individual level differences, on child growth in rural Timor-Leste. We compared trends in growth across two rural Timorese villages with different ecologies.MethodsHeads of 104 households in Natarbora, Timor-Leste, were interviewed and resource levels assessed during the food shortage season. In these households, 337 children were measured for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. World Health Organization standardized measures were calculated and compared with dry season measurements. Using hierarchical linear models, child growth was related to household resource levels. Results were then compared to data from rural mountainous Ossu, Timor-Leste.Resultsz BMI declined over the wet season when food resources were scarce compared with the dry season (PConclusionsResults highlight the importance of subsistence-based resource stabilization and of early intervention to prevent growth faltering. Predicting growth using ecological models requires small-scale investigation, as variation exists among rural areas within an ecologically and culturally diverse country.

AB - ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine through detailed contextual investigation the effects of seasonal resource shortages, and household and individual level differences, on child growth in rural Timor-Leste. We compared trends in growth across two rural Timorese villages with different ecologies.MethodsHeads of 104 households in Natarbora, Timor-Leste, were interviewed and resource levels assessed during the food shortage season. In these households, 337 children were measured for height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. World Health Organization standardized measures were calculated and compared with dry season measurements. Using hierarchical linear models, child growth was related to household resource levels. Results were then compared to data from rural mountainous Ossu, Timor-Leste.Resultsz BMI declined over the wet season when food resources were scarce compared with the dry season (PConclusionsResults highlight the importance of subsistence-based resource stabilization and of early intervention to prevent growth faltering. Predicting growth using ecological models requires small-scale investigation, as variation exists among rural areas within an ecologically and culturally diverse country.

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KW - SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS

KW - INFECTIOUS-DISEASES

KW - NUTRITIONAL-STATUS

KW - PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

KW - SEX-DIFFERENCES

KW - MALNUTRITION

KW - DIARRHEA

KW - UNDERNUTRITION

KW - AGRICULTURE

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Household resources and seasonal patterns of child growth in rural Timor-Leste

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Survival & Growth of Children in Rural East Timor - The Influences of Family Structure Resources & Local Environment on Child Outcomes

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