Biomaterial Database

Correlation between target height and children's height in upper and lower socio-economic classes in India. 2005

Vaman V Khadilkar, and Anuradha V Khadilkar, and Gulshan B Maskati

Growth and Paediatric Endocrine Research Unit, Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, Jehangir Hospital, Pune, India. akhadilkar@vsnl.net

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that correlation between target height and children's height may be less in Indian lower socioeconomic class (LSC) than in the upper socioeconomic class (USC). Three hundred and forty-six children from USC private schools and 359 children from LSC public schools were measured. Measured heights of LSC parents and reported heights of USC parents were used. Target height was calculated for both groups. The correlation between children's height and target height was significantly stronger in the USC (0.44) as compared to the LSC (0.31). Our study showed that the correlation between target height and child's height was weaker in the LSC and thus may need more cautious interpretation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007194	India	A country in southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan. The capitol is New Delhi.	Republic of India
D001827	Body Height	The distance from the sole to the crown of the head with body standing on a flat surface and fully extended.	Body Heights,Height, Body,Heights, Body
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012923	Social Class	A stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income.	Caste,Social Gradients,Socioeconomic Level,Socioeconomic Status,Middle Class Population,Castes,Class, Social,Gradient, Social,Level, Socioeconomic,Middle Class Populations,Population, Middle Class,Social Classes,Social Gradient,Socioeconomic Levels,Status, Socioeconomic