Sex Differences in Early Childhood Growth in a Resource-Limited Setting: A Secondary Analysis of the Early Life Interventions in Childhood Growth and Development in Tanzania (ELICIT) Study

Background In population-based growth surveys in sub-Saharan Africa, boys have higher rates of growth failure than girls. Objectives Our goal was to assess for the presence, timing, and potential etiology of sex-based differences in length-for-age z score (LAZ), weight-for-age z score (WAZ), and head circumference-for-age z score (HCZ) in a birth cohort in rural Tanzania. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial data on 1084 children followed from age <2 wk to 18 mo, assessing anthropometry (measured every 3 mo), illness (hospitalization and monthly maternal report of symptoms), and feeding [monthly maternal report of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and complementary solids and liquids (CSLs)]. We used linear regression to assess sex differences in LAZ, WAZ, and HCZ over time. Results Although male and female infants had similar anthropometry measures at study entry, males exhibited poorer growth through 6 mo (e.g., 3-mo mean LAZ: males -0.94, females -0.74, P < 0.01; 3-mo mean WAZ: males -0.63, females -0.48, P < 0.05), without significant worsening from 6 to 18 mo. Males had lower HCZ only at 9 mo. In evaluating possible etiologies, mediation analysis failed to identify illness or hospitalization as mediators of poorer growth among males, although at age 3 mo, males with recently reported illness exhibited greater decline in WAZ than females with illness (Delta WAZ: males -0.24, females 0.03, heterogeneity test P = 0.01). Differences in EBF and introduction of CSL did not explain the sex-based growth outcomes. Conclusions In longitudinal analysis, males exhibited more severe growth failure by 3 mo than girls and did not exhibit catchup growth between 6 and 18 mo. Reported symptoms of illness and early introduction of CSL did not appear to be mediators of these sex-based differences, although likely not all sickness was captured by monthly maternal report. Given the early nature of these deficits, LAZ and WAZ measures at 6 mo may be good outcomes for intervention studies targeting improvements in early childhood growth and thriving.

Automated summary

The study found that male infants showed poorer growth compared to females in the first 6 months, but only had smaller head circumference at 9 months. Illness or hospitalization were not found to be mediators of growth differences between genders, but at 3 months, male infants with reported illness exhibited greater decline in weight compared to females.