Ali, Rahma;
Filteau, Suzanne;
Wells, Jonathan Ck;
Zinab, Beakal;
Megersa, Bikila S;
Yilma, Daniel;
Girma, Tsinuel;
... Abera, Mubarek; + view all
(2025)
Associations of linear growth trajectories from 0-5 years with cognitive function and school achievement at 10 years of age: The Ethiopian iABC birth cohort study.
British Journal of Nutrition
pp. 1-26.
10.1017/S0007114525105990.
(In press).
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Abstract
This study aimed to identify linear growth trajectories from 0-5 years and assess their associations with cognitive function and school achievement in Ethiopian children aged 10 years. Latent class trajectory modelling was used to identify distinct height-for-age (HAZ) trajectories. Cognitive function was assessed using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), while school achievement was measured by Math, English, and Science (MES) combined scores and grade-for-age. Associations were assessed using multiple linear or logistic regressions. We identified 4 distinct HAZ trajectories. Decreasing trajectory (n=145, 31.9%) started high at birth but dropped sharply. The increasing-decreasing trajectory (n=196, 43.2%) increased up to 3 months followed by a decrease. The stable low (n=74, 16.3%) had low HAZ at birth, followed by a slight decrease. The rising trajectory (n=39, 8.6%) started low but then increased to HAZ above, yet close to zero. At 10 years, children in the rising trajectory had 4.54 (95% CI: -0.45, 9.55, p=0.075) higher MES combined score and 2.4 times (95% CI: 1.12, 5.15, p=0.025) higher odds of being in the appropriate grade-for-age compared to those in the increasing-decreasing trajectory. The association between stable low and decreasing trajectory with appropriate grade-for-age had odds ratio close to null. In conclusion, we found that three of the four linear growth trajectory classes showed a declining pattern. Data suggest that greater linear growth in early childhood may be associated with higher school achievement and better cognitive function.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Associations of linear growth trajectories from 0-5 years with cognitive function and school achievement at 10 years of age: The Ethiopian iABC birth cohort study |
| Location: | England |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S0007114525105990 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114525105990 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author-accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Ethiopia, Linear growth, cognitive function, development, school achievement, trajectories |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Population, Policy and Practice Dept |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10219912 |
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