Growth and Nutritional Status of Rural Preschool Children in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT. The attained growth was assessed in a cross-sectional study of Saudi children 0–71 months of age, from 3 different geographical areas of rural Saudi Arabia. individual data on weight, height, weight for height and head circumference were expressed in SD scores of international standards, and data on upper arm muscle and fat areas in percent of the reference median values. The mean (SEM) weight, height, weight for height and head circumference of the entire material were -1.7 (0.05), -1.6 (0.06), -0.9 (0.05) and -1.6 (0.06), respectively. The median upper arm muscle area was 79 percent, and fat area 57 percent of the reference medians. The differencies in mean weight, height and weight for height were trivial between the 3 geograhical areas. All mean values, except that of weight for height were clearly below the means of the reference in children 0–5 months. All mean values declined significantly, however, during the next 6 months. The growth deficits thus obtained remained unchanged or increased slightly up to 6 years. According to WHO criteria, 41 percent were classified as chronically, and 12 percent as acutely undernourished. The growth pattern of rural Saudi children was similar to that of children in most developing countries and distinctly different from that of privileged Saudi children, whose growth pattern resembled that of Western reference populations.