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GROWTH PARAMETERS AMONG SAUDI CHILDREN ATTENDING HEALTH CARE CENTER OF KFU, ALHASSA, SAUDI ARABIA. IS THERE DEVIATION FROM NORMALITY?

Amjad Alhathlul, Bayan Alsultan, Noor AlBaloushi, Sara AlOmair


— Background: The assessment of growth in children is important for monitoring health status. Growth charts have been used for at least a century to screen for potentially inadequate growth. The aim of this study: is to look at growth parameters of normal children at our university health center. Material and methods: This study type is a prospective, descriptive study. In primary health care center of KFU, Alhassa, KSA. It is based on assessment of growth parameters especially weight and height of healthy children attending health center. Results: A total of 47 healthy children from birth to 11 years of age were included in this study. There were 25 males, their mean age (3.1±2.5), and 22 females, their mean age was (4.8±3.6). Most of Females height parameters were located between 25th – 75th percentiles. All male height centile were located above 75th centile. Regarding the weight, male and female were equally located between 25th – 75th centile, but we noticed that there was leaner growth pattern in weight parameter between the ages of 2 to 12 months in both male and female. Male had tendency to be taller than female in all ages. Conclusion: Growth patterns over time using multiple data points must be used in conjunction with other medical and family history to evaluate appropriate growth. Training on accurate measurements techniques, especially for recumbent length, is critical for any assessment to be valid.