A cross-sectional study of adolescent growth was undertaken among the Brahmin
girls residing in rural and urban areas of Sagar districts, Madhya Pradesh to evaluate
the urban-rural differences. Six anthropometric measurements, such as weight, stature,
sitting height, head circumference, upper arm circumference and chest girth are taken
into consideration. Though the urban girls show consistently higher values of weight,
stature, sitting height and chest girth than the rural girls, but in case of head circumference
and upper arm circumference they show consistently lower values. The maximum
increment occurs between the ages 13 and 14 years in all the six measurements in both
rural and urban girls

D. K. Adak

M. K. Tiwari

M. Randhawa

P. Bharati

S. Bharati

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Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507UDC 572.512:612.65-053.6(540)Original scientific paperPattern of Adolescent Growth Amongthe Brahmin Girls – Rural-UrbanVariationD. K. Adak1, M. K. Tiwari2, M. Randhawa2, S. Bharati3 and P. Bharati41 Anthropological Survey of India, Field Station, Sagar, MP, India2 Department of Anthropology, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, MP, India3 Sociological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, India4 Anthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, IndiaA B S T R A C TA cross-sectional study of adolescent growth was undertaken among the Brahmingirls residing in rural and urban areas of Sagar districts, Madhya Pradesh to evaluatethe urban-rural differences. Six anthropometric measurements, such as weight, stature,sitting height, head circumference, upper arm circumference and chest girth are takeninto consideration. Though the urban girls show consistently higher values of weight,stature, sitting height and chest girth than the rural girls, but in case of head circumfer-ence and upper arm circumference they show consistently lower values. The maximumincrement occurs between the ages 13 and 14 years in all the six measurements in bothrural and urban girls.IntroductionGrowth studies among the childrenhave always occupied a very prominentposition in the scientific research curricu-lum and have always received serious at-tention of the researchers engaged in thefield of both medical science and physicalanthropology all over the world1. Physicalgrowth in man is the result of interactionof his environmental and genetical con-stitution. Several factors, such as genetic,nutritional, disease, socio-economic, psy-chological, etc. are believed to be res-ponsible for individual as well as popula-tion variation in physical growth. Suddeninflexion in the rate of growth at adoles-cence represents a major event in thegrowth pattern of the children2.Many studies demonstrated that pat-tern of growth may vary between ruraland urban residence3–7. It reveals fromthe nationwide growth study in Indiathat the rate of growth is higher in urbanthan in rural children8. Similar observa-tion was found among Punjabi children9,501Received for publication March 22, 2002and the same is also observed amongBengali girls2. Environmental and cul-tural factors are responsible for urban-rural differences10. Keeping the above inview an attempt has been made in thepresent study to provide certain informa-tion on adolescent growth among the ru-ral and urban girls belonging to the Brah-min caste of Sagar district, Madhya Pra-desh, India.Materials and MethodsThe present study was based on cross-sectional data of 414 apparently healthyBrahmin girls, aged 9 to 16 years fromthe school children of Dhana village,Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh. Age ofthe girls was ascertained from the schoolbirth records. It may be mentioned thatschool birth records are very often notcorrected up to the actual date of birth.Since most of the villagers do not havebirth certificate, there is always a chanceof under reporting while the girls wouldbe admitted in the school. So, the age ofthe girls was also ascertained by consult-ing school birth records as well as bycross-checking of local events and otherdocumentary evidences which is correctup to the month, but not up to date ofbirth. Anthropometric measurements,such as body weight, stature, sitting he-ight, head circumference, upper arm cir-cumference and chest girth were taken onthe girls using standard technique11. Da-ta of the present study were collectedduring November, 1999. For the sake ofcomparison the urban data consists of369 sample were collected from the Sagartown of Madhya Pradesh.Results and DiscussionData on cross-sectional adolescentgrowth of six anthropometric traits of theBrahmin girls are set out in Table 1. It isevident that the mean values of thesetraits as a whole, increase steadily from 9to 16 years of age in both the rural andurban areas.When the data on stature are ana-lyzed a marked rise is seen between 13and 14 years among the rural as well asthe urban girls. Urban girls show consid-erably higher values than rural girls,which is noticed from 12 to 15 years,whereas, a reverse trend is noticed from 9to 11 years. However, in 16 years the ru-ral girls show slightly higher value ofstature than their urban counterpart (Ta-ble 1 and Figure 1). Urban girls showcomparatively higher values of bodyweight than rural girls from 12 to 16years. But from 9 to 11 years a reversetrend is noticed. A marked rise in weightis observed between 13 and 14 yearsamong the girls in the rural and urbanareas (Table 1 and Figure 2).Like weight and stature, sittingheight in the urban girls also show con-siderable higher values than the ruralgirls. This is evident from 9 to 16 years.The only exception on this case is 11years in which a reverse trend is noticed.However, a marked rise is observed be-tween 13 and 14 years in both rural and502D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–5071201251301351401451501551609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStatureUrbanruralFig. 1. Stature of urban and rural Brahmingirls.503D.K.Adaketal.:GrowthAmongtheBrahminGirls,Coll.Antropol.26(2002)2:501–507TABLE 1ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF BRAHMIN GIRLS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREASAge NStature(cm)Weight(kg)Sittingheight(cm)Headcircumference(cm)Upper armcircumference(cm)Chestgirth(cm)Urban X SD X SD X SD X SD X SD X SD9 46 122.6 2.64 22.4 1.29 64.2 1.36 50.6 4.27 16.2 4.41 57.9 1.2910 44 125.1 1.53 23.3 9.55 66.2 8.62 50.6 4.11 16.7 3.85 58.4 1.2611 48 132.2 1.59 26.4 1.45 68.3 1.38 51.6 4.57 17.1 4.43 61.5 1.4512 47 139.8 1.78 30.4 1.58 71.4 1.37 51.5 5.76 17.9 5.55 64.5 1.7113 45 140.4 1.88 31.6 1.48 71.9 1.14 52.1 4.36 18.6 4.09 66.8 1.4814 47 148.1 1.23 38.8 1.78 75.7 1.37 53.2 5.69 20.4 5.28 73.8 1.3715 46 150.5 1.49 40.7 1.42 77.4 1.29 52.8 4.07 21.2 5.63 75.7 1.3616 46 151.0 1.49 42.4 1.49 78.2 1.29 53.9 7.26 21.6 5.63 76.7 1.42Rural9 50 128.4 4.17 26.0 3.25 64.2 4.17 51.7 2.12 17.7 0.92 60.2 2.6910 50 128.6 4.88 26.8 4.31 65.2 7.28 52.0 1.70 17.8 0.85 60.3 3.3211 50 136.0 8.06 27.6 4.67 69.3 2.97 52.0 1.56 18.4 1.20 61.2 2.9712 64 136.6 6.56 28.4 3.68 70.1 3.36 52.1 1.44 18.6 1.36 61.3 7.7613 50 137.4 8.41 29.4 6.08 70.5 3.68 52.1 2.12 18.7 1.84 61.3 7.7614 50 146.2 6.58 35.0 5.09 75.1 4.31 53.4 1.06 21.0 2.40 70.1 4.4515 50 147.9 5.66 37.5 6.08 76.5 3.61 53.4 1.70 21.9 2.26 73.5 5.8016 50 152.5 5.16 42.3 3.75 76.7 2.19 54.8 1.98 22.2 1.34 78.3 4.10urban girls (Table 1 and Figure 3). Unlikethe earlier cases in case of head circum-ference, rural girls show considerablyhigher values than urban girls in differ-ent ages. However, a marked rise in thiscase also noticed between 13 and 14 yearsin both the sectors (Table 1 and Figure 4).Head circumference and upper armcircumference also show consistentlyhigher values in the rural girls than theurban girls. However, the differences arecomparatively more in the ages 9,10 and11 years. A marked rise is evident be-tween 13 and 14 years in both the ruraland urban girls in this case (Table 1 andFigure 5).The chest girth is comparatively hig-her among the urban girls than the ruralgirls. The exceptions in this case are in 9,10 and 11 years respectively. However, amarked rise in this case is observed be-tween 13 and 14 years like the earliercases (Table 1 and Figure 6).Overall, it can be said that there existsa marked inflexion between 13 and 14years in the distance curves in case of allthe traits in both rural and urban girls.Though the urban girls show consistentlyhigher values for weight, stature, sittingheight and chest girth than the ruralgirls but in case of head circumferenceand upper arm circumference a reversetrend is noticed. Thus, the present studyrevealed inconsistent result of adolescentgrowth among the Brahmin girls in twodifferent sectors.504D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507202224262830323436384042449 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeightUrbanRuralFig. 2. Weight of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.60626466687072747678809 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeSittingHeightUrbanRuralFig. 3. Sitting height of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.4849505152535455569 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeHeadCircumferenceUrbanRuralFig. 4. Head circumference of urban andrural Brahmin girls.1516171819202122239 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeUpperArmCircumferenceUrbanRuralFig. 5. Upper arm circumference of urbanand rural Brahmin girls.Comparative account of stature showsthat NCHS15 data is always higher in po-sition and the rest data are very closeeach other though Punjabi girls is alwayshigher than other three communities bothin urban and rural samples (Figures 7and 8).Comparative account of weight alsoshows that NCHS data is always higherin position and the rest data are veryclose each other (Figures 9 and 10).Two-way analysis of variance betweenmean values of anthropometric measure-ments in rural and urban areas revealsthat there exist significant differences inrespect of sitting height, head circumfer-ence and upper arm circumference. Butin case of other three measurements, dif-ference between two sectors is not signifi-cant (Table 2).In general, children in urban areastend to be healthier, taller and heavierthan rural children12. FAO's Fifth WorldSurvey data stated that rural childrenare more stunted and wasted (0–5 years)than urban children13. But, at large ur-ban centers of the developing world overthe past two or three decades, a differentpicture was seen14. Urban centers are notunanimously a healthy environment be-cause rapid inflexion of populationgrowth due to migration and natural in-crease, is a dramatic shift in demographicand socioeconomic composition of urbanareas and had given birth to urban slumswhich is worst than rural areas. So, themagnitude of differences is dependent ontype of urban and rural settlements suchas for urban settlements, whether it is ur-ban slum or normal urban settlers andfor rural areas, it is isolated rural areasor peri-urban or rural community.505D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507TABLE 2RESULTS OF TWO-WAY ANALYSIS OFVARIANCE BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRICMEASUREMENTS IN RURAL AND URBANAREASVariables F SignificanceStature 0.15 nsWeight 0.13 nsSitting height 5.64 SignificantHead circumference 15.36 SignificantUpper armcircumference24.73 SignificantChest girth 1.20 ns555759616365676971737577799 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeChestGirthUrbanRuralFig. 6. Chest girth of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.1001201401609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStatureMPBengaliPunjabiNCHSICMRFig. 7. Distance curve for stature of the present urban sample compared with others.If, we acknowledge the importance be-tween urban-rural differences, we have toprove an adequate explanation of whysuch urban-rural differences exist. Gen-erally, it depends on many exogenous fac-tors – (i) Environmental factors such asavailability of health care, improved wa-ter supplies, transportation, roads, elec-tricity etc. and (ii) cultural differenceswhere within the same opportunities,peoples choices and preferences (e.g., In-fant feeding practices) may differ anddependent where they reside and is alsodependent on value structure.It is seen that rural children arestunted i.e. their linear growth may bearrested due to their inadequate diet maylead to chronic energy deficiency. Besidethis, other exogenous factors such as ho-using density, availability of safe water,excreta disposal practices, household hy-506D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–5071001201401609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStatureMPPunjabiNCHSICMRFig. 8. Distance curve for stature of the present rural sample compared with others.1030509 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeightMPBengaliNCHSICMRFig. 9. Distance curve for weight of the present urban sample compared with others.103050709 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeight MPBengaliNCHSICMRFig. 10. Distance curve for weight of the present rural sample compared with others.giene, access to and distance to roads,availability of health services, motherseducation etc. are less accessible than ur-ban children. But in urban children, thebetter nutrition, better health care etc in-terrupt the linear growth retardation.507D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507R E F E R E N C E S1. SHARMA, J. C.: Physical growth and develop-ment of the Maharastrians. (Ethnographic and FolkCulture Society, Lucklow, 1970). — 2. BHARATI, S.,J. Ind. Anthropol. Soc., 23 (1988) 180. — 3. WOLAN-SKI, N., A. LASOTA, Z. Morph. Anthropol., 54 (1964)272. — 4. EVELETH, Ph. B., J. M. TANNER, World-wide variation in human growth (Cambridge Univer-sity Press, Cambridge, 1990). — 5. MEREDITH, H.V., Growth, 43 (1979) 95. — 6. GRAHAM, G. G., W. C.MACLEAN, C. H. KALLMAN, J. RABOLD, D. MEL-LITS, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 33 (1980) 338. — 7. MALI-NA, R. M., J. H. HIMES, C. D. STEPICK, F. G. LO-PEG, P. H. BUSEHANG, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 54(1981) 327. — 8. INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICALRESEARCH: Growth and physical development ofIndian infants and children. (ICMR Technical ReportSeries No. 18. (ICMR, New Delhi, 1972). — 9. KAUL,S. S., R. S. CORRUCCINI, Ind. J. Phy. Anthropol.Hum. Genet., 11 (1985) 99. — 10. ADAIR, L. S., J.VANDERSLICE, N. ZOHOORI, Urban-rural differ-ences in growth and diarrhoeal morbidity of Filipinoinfants. In: SCHELL, L. M., M. SMITH, A. BILSBO-ROUGH (Eds.): Urban ecology and health in theThird World. (Cambridge University Press, Cambrid-ge, 1993). — 11. WEINER, J. S, J. A. LOURIE: Practi-cal human biology. (Blackwell Scientific Publications,Oxford, 1981). — 12. TANNER, J. M, P. B. EVE-LETH, Urbanization and growth. In: HARRISON, G.A., J. B. GIBSON (Eds.): Man in urban environments.(Claredon press, Oxford, 1976). — 13. KELLER, W.,The epidemiology of stunting. In: WATERLOW, J. C.(Ed.): Linear growth retardation in less developedcountries. (Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series, Vol. 14,Raven press, New York, 1988). — 14. POPKIN, B., E.B. BISGROVE, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 10(1988) 3. — 15. FRISANCHO, A. R.: Human adapta-tion. (The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor,1990).P. BharatiAnthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road,Calcutta – 700 108, IndiaADOLESCENTNI OBRAZAC RASTA U BRAHMINSKIH DJEVOJAKA –RAZLIKE IZME\U SELA I GRADAS A @ E T A KTransverzalna studija adolescentnog rasta napravljena je me|u Brahminskim dje-voj~icama koje `ive u seoskim i urbanim podru~jima oblasti Sagar, Madhya Pradesh,Indija, kako bi se procijenio utjecaj seoskog i gradskog `ivota na rast. U procjeni rastakori{teno je {est antropometrijskih mjere, kao {to su tjelesna visina i masa, sjede}avisina, opseg glave, opseg nadlaktice, opseg prsnog ko{a. Premda su djevoj~ice iz gradapokazale konzistentno ve}e vrijednosti tjelesne mase, visine i sjede}e visine te opsegaprsnog ko{a od seoskih djevoj~ica, one su u opsegu glave te opsegu nadlaktice imalesustavno ni`e vrijednosti. Najve}i je rast i u seoskih i u gradskih djevoj~ica zabilje`en udobi od 13 i 14 godina i to u svih 6 tjelesnih mjera.

English

Pattern of Adolescent Growth Among the Brahmin Girls – Rural-Urban Variation

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Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507UDC 572.512:612.65-053.6(540)Original scientific paperPattern of Adolescent Growth Amongthe Brahmin Girls – Rural-UrbanVariationD. K. Adak1, M. K. Tiwari2, M. Randhawa2, S. Bharati3 and P. Bharati41 Anthropological Survey of India, Field Station, Sagar, MP, India2 Department of Anthropology, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, MP, India3 Sociological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, India4 Anthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta, IndiaA B S T R A C TA cross-sectional study of adolescent growth was undertaken among the Brahmingirls residing in rural and urban areas of Sagar districts, Madhya Pradesh to evaluatethe urban-rural differences. Six anthropometric measurements, such as weight, stature,sitting height, head circumference, upper arm circumference and chest girth are takeninto consideration. Though the urban girls show consistently higher values of weight,stature, sitting height and chest girth than the rural girls, but in case of head circumfer-ence and upper arm circumference they show consistently lower values. The maximumincrement occurs between the ages 13 and 14 years in all the six measurements in bothrural and urban girls.IntroductionGrowth studies among the childrenhave always occupied a very prominentposition in the scientific research curricu-lum and have always received serious at-tention of the researchers engaged in thefield of both medical science and physicalanthropology all over the world1. Physicalgrowth in man is the result of interactionof his environmental and genetical con-stitution. Several factors, such as genetic,nutritional, disease, socio-economic, psy-chological, etc. are believed to be res-ponsible for individual as well as popula-tion variation in physical growth. Suddeninflexion in the rate of growth at adoles-cence represents a major event in thegrowth pattern of the children2.Many studies demonstrated that pat-tern of growth may vary between ruraland urban residence3–7. It reveals fromthe nationwide growth study in Indiathat the rate of growth is higher in urbanthan in rural children8. Similar observa-tion was found among Punjabi children9,501Received for publication March 22, 2002and the same is also observed amongBengali girls2. Environmental and cul-tural factors are responsible for urban-rural differences10. Keeping the above inview an attempt has been made in thepresent study to provide certain informa-tion on adolescent growth among the ru-ral and urban girls belonging to the Brah-min caste of Sagar district, Madhya Pra-desh, India.Materials and MethodsThe present study was based on cross-sectional data of 414 apparently healthyBrahmin girls, aged 9 to 16 years fromthe school children of Dhana village,Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh. Age ofthe girls was ascertained from the schoolbirth records. It may be mentioned thatschool birth records are very often notcorrected up to the actual date of birth.Since most of the villagers do not havebirth certificate, there is always a chanceof under reporting while the girls wouldbe admitted in the school. So, the age ofthe girls was also ascertained by consult-ing school birth records as well as bycross-checking of local events and otherdocumentary evidences which is correctup to the month, but not up to date ofbirth. Anthropometric measurements,such as body weight, stature, sitting he-ight, head circumference, upper arm cir-cumference and chest girth were taken onthe girls using standard technique11. Da-ta of the present study were collectedduring November, 1999. For the sake ofcomparison the urban data consists of369 sample were collected from the Sagartown of Madhya Pradesh.Results and DiscussionData on cross-sectional adolescentgrowth of six anthropometric traits of theBrahmin girls are set out in Table 1. It isevident that the mean values of thesetraits as a whole, increase steadily from 9to 16 years of age in both the rural andurban areas.When the data on stature are ana-lyzed a marked rise is seen between 13and 14 years among the rural as well asthe urban girls. Urban girls show consid-erably higher values than rural girls,which is noticed from 12 to 15 years,whereas, a reverse trend is noticed from 9to 11 years. However, in 16 years the ru-ral girls show slightly higher value ofstature than their urban counterpart (Ta-ble 1 and Figure 1). Urban girls showcomparatively higher values of bodyweight than rural girls from 12 to 16years. But from 9 to 11 years a reversetrend is noticed. A marked rise in weightis observed between 13 and 14 yearsamong the girls in the rural and urbanareas (Table 1 and Figure 2).Like weight and stature, sittingheight in the urban girls also show con-siderable higher values than the ruralgirls. This is evident from 9 to 16 years.The only exception on this case is 11years in which a reverse trend is noticed.However, a marked rise is observed be-tween 13 and 14 years in both rural and502D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–5071201251301351401451501551609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStatureUrbanruralFig. 1. Stature of urban and rural Brahmingirls.503D.K.Adaketal.:GrowthAmongtheBrahminGirls,Coll.Antropol.26(2002)2:501–507TABLE 1ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF BRAHMIN GIRLS IN URBAN AND RURAL AREASAge NStature(cm)Weight(kg)Sittingheight(cm)Headcircumference(cm)Upper armcircumference(cm)Chestgirth(cm)Urban X SD X SD X SD X SD X SD X SD9 46 122.6 2.64 22.4 1.29 64.2 1.36 50.6 4.27 16.2 4.41 57.9 1.2910 44 125.1 1.53 23.3 9.55 66.2 8.62 50.6 4.11 16.7 3.85 58.4 1.2611 48 132.2 1.59 26.4 1.45 68.3 1.38 51.6 4.57 17.1 4.43 61.5 1.4512 47 139.8 1.78 30.4 1.58 71.4 1.37 51.5 5.76 17.9 5.55 64.5 1.7113 45 140.4 1.88 31.6 1.48 71.9 1.14 52.1 4.36 18.6 4.09 66.8 1.4814 47 148.1 1.23 38.8 1.78 75.7 1.37 53.2 5.69 20.4 5.28 73.8 1.3715 46 150.5 1.49 40.7 1.42 77.4 1.29 52.8 4.07 21.2 5.63 75.7 1.3616 46 151.0 1.49 42.4 1.49 78.2 1.29 53.9 7.26 21.6 5.63 76.7 1.42Rural9 50 128.4 4.17 26.0 3.25 64.2 4.17 51.7 2.12 17.7 0.92 60.2 2.6910 50 128.6 4.88 26.8 4.31 65.2 7.28 52.0 1.70 17.8 0.85 60.3 3.3211 50 136.0 8.06 27.6 4.67 69.3 2.97 52.0 1.56 18.4 1.20 61.2 2.9712 64 136.6 6.56 28.4 3.68 70.1 3.36 52.1 1.44 18.6 1.36 61.3 7.7613 50 137.4 8.41 29.4 6.08 70.5 3.68 52.1 2.12 18.7 1.84 61.3 7.7614 50 146.2 6.58 35.0 5.09 75.1 4.31 53.4 1.06 21.0 2.40 70.1 4.4515 50 147.9 5.66 37.5 6.08 76.5 3.61 53.4 1.70 21.9 2.26 73.5 5.8016 50 152.5 5.16 42.3 3.75 76.7 2.19 54.8 1.98 22.2 1.34 78.3 4.10urban girls (Table 1 and Figure 3). Unlikethe earlier cases in case of head circum-ference, rural girls show considerablyhigher values than urban girls in differ-ent ages. However, a marked rise in thiscase also noticed between 13 and 14 yearsin both the sectors (Table 1 and Figure 4).Head circumference and upper armcircumference also show consistentlyhigher values in the rural girls than theurban girls. However, the differences arecomparatively more in the ages 9,10 and11 years. A marked rise is evident be-tween 13 and 14 years in both the ruraland urban girls in this case (Table 1 andFigure 5).The chest girth is comparatively hig-her among the urban girls than the ruralgirls. The exceptions in this case are in 9,10 and 11 years respectively. However, amarked rise in this case is observed be-tween 13 and 14 years like the earliercases (Table 1 and Figure 6).Overall, it can be said that there existsa marked inflexion between 13 and 14years in the distance curves in case of allthe traits in both rural and urban girls.Though the urban girls show consistentlyhigher values for weight, stature, sittingheight and chest girth than the ruralgirls but in case of head circumferenceand upper arm circumference a reversetrend is noticed. Thus, the present studyrevealed inconsistent result of adolescentgrowth among the Brahmin girls in twodifferent sectors.504D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507202224262830323436384042449 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeightUrbanRuralFig. 2. Weight of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.60626466687072747678809 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeSittingHeightUrbanRuralFig. 3. Sitting height of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.4849505152535455569 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeHeadCircumferenceUrbanRuralFig. 4. Head circumference of urban andrural Brahmin girls.1516171819202122239 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeUpperArmCircumferenceUrbanRuralFig. 5. Upper arm circumference of urbanand rural Brahmin girls.Comparative account of stature showsthat NCHS15 data is always higher in po-sition and the rest data are very closeeach other though Punjabi girls is alwayshigher than other three communities bothin urban and rural samples (Figures 7and 8).Comparative account of weight alsoshows that NCHS data is always higherin position and the rest data are veryclose each other (Figures 9 and 10).Two-way analysis of variance betweenmean values of anthropometric measure-ments in rural and urban areas revealsthat there exist significant differences inrespect of sitting height, head circumfer-ence and upper arm circumference. Butin case of other three measurements, dif-ference between two sectors is not signifi-cant (Table 2).In general, children in urban areastend to be healthier, taller and heavierthan rural children12. FAO's Fifth WorldSurvey data stated that rural childrenare more stunted and wasted (0–5 years)than urban children13. But, at large ur-ban centers of the developing world overthe past two or three decades, a differentpicture was seen14. Urban centers are notunanimously a healthy environment be-cause rapid inflexion of populationgrowth due to migration and natural in-crease, is a dramatic shift in demographicand socioeconomic composition of urbanareas and had given birth to urban slumswhich is worst than rural areas. So, themagnitude of differences is dependent ontype of urban and rural settlements suchas for urban settlements, whether it is ur-ban slum or normal urban settlers andfor rural areas, it is isolated rural areasor peri-urban or rural community.505D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507TABLE 2RESULTS OF TWO-WAY ANALYSIS OFVARIANCE BETWEEN ANTHROPOMETRICMEASUREMENTS IN RURAL AND URBANAREASVariables F SignificanceStature 0.15 nsWeight 0.13 nsSitting height 5.64 SignificantHead circumference 15.36 SignificantUpper armcircumference24.73 SignificantChest girth 1.20 ns555759616365676971737577799 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeChestGirthUrbanRuralFig. 6. Chest girth of urban and ruralBrahmin girls.1001201401609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStatureMPBengaliPunjabiNCHSICMRFig. 7. Distance curve for stature of the present urban sample compared with others.If, we acknowledge the importance be-tween urban-rural differences, we have toprove an adequate explanation of whysuch urban-rural differences exist. Gen-erally, it depends on many exogenous fac-tors – (i) Environmental factors such asavailability of health care, improved wa-ter supplies, transportation, roads, elec-tricity etc. and (ii) cultural differenceswhere within the same opportunities,peoples choices and preferences (e.g., In-fant feeding practices) may differ anddependent where they reside and is alsodependent on value structure.It is seen that rural children arestunted i.e. their linear growth may bearrested due to their inadequate diet maylead to chronic energy deficiency. Besidethis, other exogenous factors such as ho-using density, availability of safe water,excreta disposal practices, household hy-506D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–5071001201401609 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeStature MPPunjabiNCHSICMRFig. 8. Distance curve for stature of the present rural sample compared with others.1030509 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeightMPBengaliNCHSICMRFig. 9. Distance curve for weight of the present urban sample compared with others.103050709 10 11 12 13 14 15 16AgeWeight MPBengaliNCHSICMRFig. 10. Distance curve for weight of the present rural sample compared with others.giene, access to and distance to roads,availability of health services, motherseducation etc. are less accessible than ur-ban children. But in urban children, thebetter nutrition, better health care etc in-terrupt the linear growth retardation.507D. K. Adak et al.: Growth Among the Brahmin Girls, Coll. Antropol. 26 (2002) 2: 501–507R E F E R E N C E S1. SHARMA, J. C.: Physical growth and develop-ment of the Maharastrians. (Ethnographic and FolkCulture Society, Lucklow, 1970). — 2. BHARATI, S.,J. Ind. Anthropol. Soc., 23 (1988) 180. — 3. WOLAN-SKI, N., A. LASOTA, Z. Morph. Anthropol., 54 (1964)272. — 4. EVELETH, Ph. B., J. M. TANNER, World-wide variation in human growth (Cambridge Univer-sity Press, Cambridge, 1990). — 5. MEREDITH, H.V., Growth, 43 (1979) 95. — 6. GRAHAM, G. G., W. C.MACLEAN, C. H. KALLMAN, J. RABOLD, D. MEL-LITS, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 33 (1980) 338. — 7. MALI-NA, R. M., J. H. HIMES, C. D. STEPICK, F. G. LO-PEG, P. H. BUSEHANG, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 54(1981) 327. — 8. INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICALRESEARCH: Growth and physical development ofIndian infants and children. (ICMR Technical ReportSeries No. 18. (ICMR, New Delhi, 1972). — 9. KAUL,S. S., R. S. CORRUCCINI, Ind. J. Phy. Anthropol.Hum. Genet., 11 (1985) 99. — 10. ADAIR, L. S., J.VANDERSLICE, N. ZOHOORI, Urban-rural differ-ences in growth and diarrhoeal morbidity of Filipinoinfants. In: SCHELL, L. M., M. SMITH, A. BILSBO-ROUGH (Eds.): Urban ecology and health in theThird World. (Cambridge University Press, Cambrid-ge, 1993). — 11. WEINER, J. S, J. A. LOURIE: Practi-cal human biology. (Blackwell Scientific Publications,Oxford, 1981). — 12. TANNER, J. M, P. B. EVE-LETH, Urbanization and growth. In: HARRISON, G.A., J. B. GIBSON (Eds.): Man in urban environments.(Claredon press, Oxford, 1976). — 13. KELLER, W.,The epidemiology of stunting. In: WATERLOW, J. C.(Ed.): Linear growth retardation in less developedcountries. (Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series, Vol. 14,Raven press, New York, 1988). — 14. POPKIN, B., E.B. BISGROVE, Food and Nutrition Bulletin, 10(1988) 3. — 15. FRISANCHO, A. R.: Human adapta-tion. (The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor,1990).P. BharatiAnthropology and Human Genetics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road,Calcutta – 700 108, IndiaADOLESCENTNI OBRAZAC RASTA U BRAHMINSKIH DJEVOJAKA –RAZLIKE IZME\U SELA I GRADAS A @ E T A KTransverzalna studija adolescentnog rasta napravljena je me|u Brahminskim dje-voj~icama koje `ive u seoskim i urbanim podru~jima oblasti Sagar, Madhya Pradesh,Indija, kako bi se procijenio utjecaj seoskog i gradskog `ivota na rast. U procjeni rastakori{teno je {est antropometrijskih mjere, kao {to su tjelesna visina i masa, sjede}avisina, opseg glave, opseg nadlaktice, opseg prsnog ko{a. Premda su djevoj~ice iz gradapokazale konzistentno ve}e vrijednosti tjelesne mase, visine i sjede}e visine te opsegaprsnog ko{a od seoskih djevoj~ica, one su u opsegu glave te opsegu nadlaktice imalesustavno ni`e vrijednosti. Najve}i je rast i u seoskih i u gradskih djevoj~ica zabilje`en udobi od 13 i 14 godina i to u svih 6 tjelesnih mjera.

Pattern of Adolescent Growth Among the Brahmin Girls – Rural-Urban Variation

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