Cameron N, Kgamphe J S
Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
S Afr Med J. 1993 Mar;83(3):184-90.
The growth status of two samples of South African rural black children, from Ubombo, KwaZulu, and Vaalwater, northern Transvaal, was compared with that of samples of American black children and three other rural sub-Saharan groups. All the sub-Saharan black children were shorter, lighter and had less subcutaneous fat than the American children. Their growth curves demonstrated the well-recognised pattern of deviation from American means before adolescence so that, by the start of adolescence, approximately 50% of the children were below the 10th centile of American norms. Adolescence in all groups is delayed and the magnitude of peak velocity reduced. The adolescent growth spurt appears, however, to be extended along the time base so that pre- and post-peak velocities are raised; this leads to apparent catch-up growth in the late teenage years. While the Vaalwater sample demonstrated growth patterns very similar to those of other rural sub-Saharan black groups, the Ubombo children were consistently taller and heavier than all the others. These data are discussed in relation to the need for national norms that reflect the growth status of black South African children.
将来自夸祖鲁省乌邦博和德兰士瓦省北部瓦尔沃特的两个南非农村黑人儿童样本的生长状况，与美国黑人儿童样本以及撒哈拉以南非洲其他三个农村群体的样本进行了比较。所有撒哈拉以南非洲黑人儿童都比美国儿童更矮、更轻，皮下脂肪更少。他们的生长曲线显示出青春期前与美国均值存在公认的偏离模式，以至于到青春期开始时，约50%的儿童低于美国标准的第10百分位数。所有群体的青春期都延迟，峰值速度的幅度降低。然而，青春期生长突增似乎在时间轴上有所延长，因此峰值前后的速度有所提高；这导致在青少年后期出现明显的追赶生长。虽然瓦尔沃特样本显示出与其他撒哈拉以南非洲农村黑人群体非常相似的生长模式，但乌邦博儿童始终比其他所有儿童更高、更重。结合反映南非黑人儿童生长状况的国家规范需求对这些数据进行了讨论。
