Secular trends in the growth of children aged 0-6 years in a rural Nigerian community.

Cross-sectional anthropometric measurements were taken between 1987 and 1990 in 673 children aged 0-6 years in Imesi Ile village, Nigeria. The height and weight curves obtained fall behind corresponding growth curves in the same community three decades previously. Mid-upper arm circumference values indicated moderate to severe malnutrition in 25.8% of children aged 1-5 years. The heights of 67.1% and weights of 59.7% of the children fell below the third percentile of a Nigerian equivalent of an international reference population standard. Possible reasons for deterioration of the nutritional status of children in the community include the prevailing adverse socio-economic conditions, changes in child rearing practices over the years, persistence of unsatisfactory living conditions and failure to sustain the implementation of innovative programmes previously introduced into the community. It is suggested that present programmes aimed at promoting the health of rural communities should be reviewed to improve sustainability and should be backed up by measures to improve socio-economic and living conditions.