A survey of infant growth, diet and related factors in Glasgow

Donnet, M. Louise (1981) A survey of infant growth, diet and related factors in Glasgow. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Deprivation is often associated with short stature and Glasgow is a city of short stature (Common Services Agency, 1975) and of deprivation (Holterman, 1975). This survey looks at some aspects of nutrition and growth in Glasgow infants. A group of infants from a severely deprived area (Blackhill) was examined at approximately monthly intervals from just after birth until one year. Another group from an area more typical of Glasgow (Carntyne) was similarly examined. A cross sectional group of infants, who provided reference data, was seen, each child at one of five ages: 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Data were collected concerning various family and social factors, infant feeding practice, present diet, obstetric factors and hospital admissions, in addition to measuring the children. Children in the two longitudinal groups were assessed developmentally, examined medically and had morbidity records kept. The Blackhill children were smaller at birth than those of the cross section. There were more low birth weight infants and more of short gestation. After birth, they remained shorter and lighter than the cross sectional children, with the differences greatest below the 10th centiles. Thus, whereas the larger Blackhill children approximated those of the cross section and Carntyne, the smaller ones were very much smaller. No dietary deficiences were found, with the exception of vitamins A and D at 12 months. The Blackhill children suffered from more respiratory tract infections than did those from Carntyne and had approximately twice as many episodes of gastroenteritis.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: F Cockburn
• Keywords: Public health, Nutrition
• Date of Award: 1981
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1981-72151
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 17 May 2019 12:46
• Last Modified: 17 May 2019 12:46
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72151