关键词: 身高/长, 神经行为发育, 3岁以下儿童

Abstract: Objective To examine the association of linear growth and neurodevelopment among children under 3 years old in impoverished areas of Guizhou and Shanxi Province, in order to provide suggestions fro further intervention. Methods Data were obtained from the cross-sectional study conducted among children under 3 and their caregivers in six poverty-stricken counties from July to September in 2013.Non-parametric test and general linear regression analysis were performed to investigate the association of child linear growth and early neurodevelopment. Results The height-for-age Z-score(HAZ), the median standardized Age and Stages Questionnaire Z score (ASQ Z-score) using the Chinese national norms for children was -0.73±1.44 and -0.08(-1.30, 0.77), respectively.Among children aged 1 to 17 months, the ASQ Z-score for the healthy children group was 0.36 higher than the growth insufficiency group, 0.78 higher than the growth retardation group(P＜0.05).After controlling for children's sex, age, caregivers' age, sex, ethnicity, education, the primary caregivers, family income and household access to internet, the ASQ Z-score increased by 0.106s for every 1s increase in HAZ. Conclusions Child linear growth is positively correlated with early neurodevelopment.Linear growth deficit is an independent risk factor of child neurodevelopment in young children in resource-poor settings of rural China.In the routine growth monitoring and counselling services, the guidance and promotion of early development of children with growth deficits and stunting should be taken into account.

Key words: linear growth, early neurodevelopment, children under 3 years