[Health school readiness of short-statured rural and urban children against of peers' background]

Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2007;13(4):201-5.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

The aim of this work: is to estimate the frequency of short-stature phenomena,s among 6-7 y.o. rural and urban children and to assess the physical fitness and body posture of short-statured girls and boys against of peers, background.

Material and methods: The researches were conducted on 436 children: 232 boys and 204 girls from village and city. The used methods were: anthropometric measurements (body height), simple physical fitness tests, the examination of body posture, poll technique and basic statistical methods.

Results: The analysis show that there are differences in the frequency of short-stature phenomena,s between girls and boys and between rural and urban children. Taking into consideration developmental age, the level of physical fitness of short-statured children is in "narrow norm" (between 25% and 75% of population) most often. Body posture of short-statured 6-7 y.o. children is characterized by typical features in this ontogenesis period: crooked knees, flat-crooked feet, protruding shoulder blades, emphasized stomach, asymmetrical shoulders and shoulder blades, staggering.

Conclusions: There is a need of systematical monitoring of the biological development of short-statured children, particularly taking into consideration girls and boys whose physical fitness level is weak and body posture is incorrect, and also that kind of children, who grow in families with a low social-economic and educational status.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Body Height*
  • Child
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Growth Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Physical Fitness*
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Posture
  • Rural Population
  • Schools / statistics & numerical data*
  • Social Class
  • Urban Population