Influence of maternal height on children’s health status and mortality: a cross-sectional study in poor Roma communities in rural Serbia

Publication date: Available online 27 November 2018Source: HOMOAuthor(s): Jelena ČvorovićAbstractTo determine possible variations in children’s health status and mortality associated with variations in maternal stature, an anthropometric and demographic study was conducted in a Roma population of poor socio-economic status in rural Serbia. Data were collected during several years of anthropological fieldwork. The sample consisted of 691 women, ranging from 16 to 80 years of age. In addition to stature, Roma women’s demographics, reproductive history, reproductive outcomes and health status of their children were collected. The results provide evidence of a significant association between mother's stature and their children’s health and mortality, with a shorter mother's stature predisposing children to poor health and survival outcomes. The findings could prompt development of a definition of short stature among Roma women to evaluate the risk based on height distribution among the general Roma population.SažetakAntropometrijsko i demografsko istraživanje je sprovodeno među romskim stanovništvom lošijeg socioekonomskog stanja u seoskim sredinama u Srbiji, sa ciljem utvrđivanja mogućih varijacija u mortalitetu i zdravstvenom stanju dece i njihovoj povezanosti sa telesnom visinom majke. Uzorak se sastojao od 691 žene, starosti od 16 do 80 godina. Osim visine majke, sakupljeni su i osnovni demografski i podaci o reproduktivnoj istoriji, te podaci o zdravstvenom s...
Source: HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: research