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Estimation of Stature from Upper Arm Length in Children Aged 4.0 to 6.92 y in Merida, Yucatan

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Abstract

Objective

To understand age-sex variation of stature and upper arm length (UAL) and to estimate stature from UAL through prediction equations.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2006–2007 among 458 children (218 boys and 240 girls) aged 4.0 to 6.92 y of south Merida in Yucatan, Mexico.

Results

The results show significant age variation (p < 0.001) of stature and upper arm length (UAL) in children. Boys show significantly higher mean stature and UAL compared to the girls. Relative proportion of upper arm length to stature is greater in boys. Interrelationship between stature and upper arm length exhibits significant association with respect to age and sex of children. Reconstruction of stature from upper arm length through regression analysis also gives good prediction models for separate and combined samples of both sexes with age. Regression coefficients for UAL predicting stature account for 0.90 or greater variance in the dependent variable (stature). The difference between reconstructed stature and the actual measurement is less than ±2.00 cm.

Conclusions

UAL appears to be a reliable indicator to estimate stature in children aged 4.0 to 6.92 y old.

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Acknowledgements

The present paper is based on an investigation headed by one of the authors (FD) . The authors thankfully acknowledge the help extended by Paloma Pérez and Mayra Vera during fieldwork and data collection, and valuable suggestions made by Dr. Luis A. Rodriguez Carvajal of Faculty of Mathematics, UADY at the time of preparation of the manuscripts.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Role of Funding Source

The study is funded by Cinvestav.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Ecology, Cinvestav-Merida, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

    Sudip Datta Banik, Graciela Valentín & Federico Dickinson

  2. Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK

    Hugo Azcorra & Barry Bogin

  3. Departamento de Ecologia Humana, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav), Unidad Mérida, Carretera antigua a Progreso km 6, 97310, Mérida, Yucatán, México

    Sudip Datta Banik

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  1. Sudip Datta Banik
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  2. Hugo Azcorra
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  3. Graciela Valentín
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  4. Barry Bogin
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  5. Federico Dickinson
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Correspondence to Sudip Datta Banik.

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Datta Banik, S., Azcorra, H., Valentín, G. et al. Estimation of Stature from Upper Arm Length in Children Aged 4.0 to 6.92 y in Merida, Yucatan. Indian J Pediatr 79, 640–646 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0580-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0580-0

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