Physical growth curves of indigenous Xavante children in Central Brazil: results from a longitudinal study (2009–2012)

Abstract

Background: The nutritional profile of Indigenous children in Brazil is comparable to those observed in some of the least developed regions of the world.

Aim: Weight and height growth curves were characterised based on longitudinal data from a local Indigenous population experiencing the double burden of child under-nutrition and adult obesity.

Subjects and methods: Anthropometric data were collected in six waves from 2009–2011 for children <10 in two proximate Xavante villages in Central Brazil. Prevalence rates for stunting, wasting and thinness were calculated using WHO references. Weight and height data were adjusted for generalised additive mixed models to generate growth curves.

Results: Prevalence rates of stunting and wasting were high, but cases of thinness and excess weight were negligible. Weight and height began close to WHO medians, but fell substantially before 12 months. Boys but not girls were able to catch-up in weight before age 10. From 3–10 years, height for both sexes remained between −2 and 0 z-scores.

Conclusion: Impaired Xavante growth before 1 year followed by inconsistent recovery before 10 years reflects health and wellbeing disparities with regard to the Brazilian national population and a complex epidemiology of growth involving rapid nutritional change.

Keywords:

• Nutritional assessment
• body height
• body weight
• malnutrition/epidemiology
• health status disparities

Acknowledgements

We thank the Xavante of Pimentel Barbosa e Etênhiritipá villages, who approved the study and received us in their villages and homes during fieldwork.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. Financing for the study was provided by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, PAPES V program, No. 0428), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq, No. 475674/2008-1) and The National School of Public Health (Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca) INOVA-ENSP Program.