Income and growth retardation in poor families with similar living conditions in rural Guatemala†

This work was supported by the Agency for International Development (AID) Contract No. 931–17–560–625–73 and the Ford Foundation, Mexico, D. F., Mexico.

The relationship between annual family per capita income (AFPCI) and growth retardation in children as ascertained by weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A) and weight for height (W/H) was studied in families residing in coffee plantations in Guatemala. When W/A and H/A are correlated with AFPCI, significant differences are observed (P < 0.01); but when W/H data is analyzed in the same manner, differences are not significant (P > 0.05). When AFPCI data are divided by quartiles of income levels, the prevalence of growth retardation is reduced as AFPCI increases. An age dependent effect does exist, since no differences in W/A, H/A and W/H are observed by levels of AFPCI in children 3–30 months; but in older children (36–60 months of age) marked differences are detected. Some mechanisms related to the AFPCI's effect on children's growth in families regarded as homogeneous in terms of living conditions are discussed.

Key words:

• Family income
• growth retardation
• labourers
• coffee plantations

Notes

This work was supported by the Agency for International Development (AID) Contract No. 931–17–560–625–73 and the Ford Foundation, Mexico, D. F., Mexico.