Investigation and analysis of physical development in 2 793 children under 3 years old

ObjectiveTo understand the physical development of children aged 0-3 years, and provide the reference for the guidance and intervention of children's health care.

MethodsThe survey objects were selected from the permanent residents in the development zones of Anqing city using the means of stratified random sampling.The valid data of 2 793 cases were obtained from the last physical examination records of children aged 0-3 years from 2014 to 2016 according to the age ratio of nearly 1:1 in different age groups.Compared with the WHO standards for child growth and development, the Z-score recommended by WHO was used for evaluation.

ResultsThe body mass and body length of boys and girls were higher than that of WHO standards, and the growth trend was consistent with the reference standards.The body mass in boys at each month were higher than that in girls (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).Except for 9 and 30 months, the height of boys in other months was greater than that of girls (P < 0.01).The middle and upper middle proportions of height body mass and age body mass in girls were higher than those in boys (P < 0.01).The wasted rate, low body mass rate, development delay rate, overweight rate and obesity rate in 0-3 years old children were 0.7%, 1.8%, 0.6%, 7.4% and 8.2%, respectively.The obesity and overweight rates in boys were higher than those in girls (P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe overall physical development of children is better, and the girl's development are more reasonable than that in boys.Malnutrition remains, and the obesity and overweight are the prominent problems of children care.