The Influence of Household Size on Growth Pattern of Children Aged 5-12 Years from Kazaure Emirate, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Anthropometry is the measurement of different parts of the body and is an indicator of nutritional and health status. Socio-economic variables such as income, education, birth order, family size, and urbanization are associated with the physical development of children. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of house-hold (family) size on the growth pattern of children aged 5-12 years from Kazaure emirate, Jigawa State, Nigeria. A stadiometer was used to measure height to the nearest 0.1 cm and weight to the nearest 0.5 kg. A non-elastic measuring tape was used for the measurement of head, neck, chest, mid upper arm, hip, waist and calf circumferences to the nearest 0.1cm respectively. A Harpenden skin fold caliper was used for the measurement of biceps and triceps skin fold thicknesses to the nearest 0.1 mm respectively. It was a cross-sectional survey comprising of 863 pupils of Hausa ethnic group randomly selected from public primary schools in Kazaure emirate aged 5 - 12years. Males of household size between1-2, had higher values of HT, WT and body circumferences than females except hip circumference with statistical significant difference p<0.05 while females had higher values of biceps and triceps skinfold thicknesses with statistical difference p<0.05. Males of household size >2, had higher values of HT, WT, BMI and body circumferences than females with statistical difference (p<0.05) while females had higher values of skinfold thickness and HC with statistical difference (p=0.01). Males of household size 1-2, had higher values of cephalofacial dimensions than females with statistical difference (p<0.05) while females had higher values of nasal height and cephalic index than males with statistical difference p<0.05. Males of household size >2, had higher values of cephalofacial dimensions than females with statistical difference p<0.05 while females had higher values of NH and FI with statistical difference p<0.05. Males of household size 1-2 and >2, had higher values of upper and lower limbs dimensions than females with statistical difference p<0.05. In conclusion, it was observed that males grew better than females and, children from small family size had better growth than those from large family size. BSF=Biceps skinfold TSF= circumference, circumference, The anthropometric parameters of growth examined in this study population showed that the males had higher height, weight and BMI than females. Studies by Pena Reyes et al . (2002), Donald, (2002), Al-Sendi et al . (2003) showed that males had higher height, weight and BMI than the females. Additionally, studies by Ilayperuma, (2010); Kharyal and Nath, (2008); Ezekie et al . (2015), reported that males had higher height than the females respectively. However, studies by Bolzan et al . (1999) showed that the females were found to be taller, heavier and had higher BMI than the males. This differs from the result of this study whereby the males were taller, heavier and had higher BMI. Similarly, females had higher values for biceps and triceps skin folds thicknesses than the males, and this agrees with findings by Al-Sendi et al . (2003) whereby the females had higher values for triceps and subscapular skin folds than the males at all ages (12 – 17 years). The males had higher values than the females in the body circumferences except hip circumference respectively This was in line with reports by Al-Sendi et al. (2003) who found that males had higher waist circumference than the females while the females had higher mid-upper arm and hip circumferences than the males. Studies by Ezekie et al . (2015) reported that Igbo males had higher head circumference than the Igbo females. Likewise, males had higher waist and neck circumferences than the females and this corroborates the findings of Mozaffer et al . (2012). This study showed that males had larger head length, head breadth, facial height and facial breadth than the females respectively. Studies by Kharyal and Nath, (2008), Olotu et al . (2009), Ilayperuma, (2010); Omotoso et