Monitoring of anthropometric indicators of physical development of children in the first year of life in the Republic of Belarus
Introduction. The physical development of children in the first year of life is characterized by a pronounced dynamism of indicators due to hereditary factors and various environmental factors. The analysis of the literature data is contradictory and indicates two multidirectional processes - acceleration and deceleration. Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of the main indicators of physical development (body length and weight, head and chest) obtained in 2008 (group I) and 2018 (group II) by random sampling was carried out. These populations were homogeneous in place of residence, ethnicity, close in time of inspection and representative in number. The number of boys and girls in the group I was 100 people, in the group II - 75 and 70 people, respectively. Results. Monitoring of anthropometric indicators of body weight in newborn children confirmed the stability of this parameter and higher values in boys than in girls. Boys of group II from the age of 6 months have significantly lower body weight indicators compared to group I. Monitoring of body length in children of the first year of life over a 10-year period indicates that monthly gains in children of group II are lower than in group I. In 2018, boys from the age of 5 months had significantly lower head circumference compared to 2008. A significant decrease in the circumference of the chest was noted in boys of group II, starting from the 2nd month of life, in girls - from the 1st month, compared with children of group I. Conclusion. The analysis of anthropometric indicators in children in the first year of life over a ten-year period revealed a high intensity of their monthly gains in the first months of life with a gradual decrease in their intensity in the second half of the year. Significantly lower indicators of body weight and chest were established and a tendency to decrease body length and head circumference in children in 2018.