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Decomposition of socioeconomic inequality in growth disorders to its determinants in pediatric population: the CASPIAN IV study

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Abstract

Purpose

The current study aims to evaluate socioeconomic inequality in growth disorders and its determinants in Iranian children and adolescents.

Methods

In this nationwide cross-sectional survey, 14,880 students aged 6–18 years were selected through multistage cluster sampling method from urban and rural areas of 30 provinces of Iran in 2011. Socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated using principle component analysis. Socioeconomic inequality in growth disorders (including; underweight, excess weight, overweight, general obesity, abdominal obesity, and short stature) was assessed using concentration index (C) and slope index of inequality (SII). The Oaxaca Blinder decomposition method was used to determine determinants of this inequality.

Results

Totally, 13,486 students participated in this study (participation rate: 90.6%), comprising 50.8% boys and 75.6% urban inhabitants. Their mean age was 12.47 ± 3.36 years with no significant gender difference. The prevalence of excess weight, overweight, and general and abdominal obesity increased linearly as SES increased, and the prevalence of underweight and short stature decreased linearly as SES increased. The C index for underweight and short stature was negative, which suggests that inequality was in favor of high SES groups, and regarding overweight, excess weight, general and abdominal obesity, the index was positive, indicating that inequality was in favor of in low SES groups.

Conclusion

Our findings show a considerable inequality in prevalence of growth disorders in Iranian children and adolescents. These findings provide practical information for health policies and programs.

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Data availability

All the data supporting the findings is contained within the manuscript.

Abbreviations

SES:

Socio Economic Status

CI:

Concentration Index

SII:

Slope Index of Inequality

CASPIAN study:

Childhood and Adolescence Surveillance and Prevention of Adult Non-Communicable Disease study

PIRLS:

Progress in the International Reading Literacy Study

ST:

Screen Time

EG:

Electronic Games

PA:

Physical Activity

BMI:

Body Mass Index

WC:

Waist Circumference

FH:

Family History

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all participants who contributed to this nationwide project.

Funding

This study was funded by Alborz University of Medical sciences.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Mostafa Qorbani and Ramin Heshmat Equally contributed as corresponding authors

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran

    Shirin Djalalinia

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Roya Kelishadi & Gelayol Ardalan

  3. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Science, Karaj, Iran

    Mostafa Qorbani

  4. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mostafa Qorbani

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Sheidaei

  6. Ophthalmic Epidemiology Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran

    Mohammad Hassan Emamian

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Mohammad Esmaeil Motlagh

  8. Department of Medical Emergencies, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

    Hamid Asayesh

  9. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

    Armita Mahdavi Gorabi

  10. Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Ramin Heshmat

Authors
  1. Shirin Djalalinia
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  2. Roya Kelishadi
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Contributions

Study concept and design: SD, RH, MQ, MEM, GA and RK; drafting of the manuscript, and critical revision of the manuscript: SD, MQ, AS, MHE, SS, HA and RK; Statistical Analysis: SD, MQ and AS. All of the authors have given final approval of the version to be published.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mostafa Qorbani or Ramin Heshmat.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki (Seoul, 2008). Ethical approval was given by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ethics committee and other relevant national and provincial regulatory organizations. Each participant, after complete explanation of the objectives and protocols, was assured that his/her responses would remain anonymous and confidential. Participation was voluntary, and all potential participants had the right to withdraw from the study at any time. Written informed consent and oral assent were obtained from the parents and students, respectively.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Djalalinia, S., Kelishadi, R., Qorbani, M. et al. Decomposition of socioeconomic inequality in growth disorders to its determinants in pediatric population: the CASPIAN IV study. J Diabetes Metab Disord 20, 467–476 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00767-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00767-6

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