Persistent growth faltering among Aboriginal infants and young children in northwest Australia: a retrospective study from 1969 to 1993

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Abstract
The objective was to examine long‐term changes in the growth of Aboriginal infants and young children in the Kimberley region in the far northwest of Australia from 1969 to 1993. A retrospective analysis of anthropometric data (weight and length) routinely collected on 0–5‐year‐old children in 5‐year cohorts from 1969 to 1993 was carried out. From 1974‐78 to 1989‐93 there has been a significant increase in mean birthweight (ANOVA p < 0.05). The percentage of low birthweight infants (p < 0.001). There were no consistent improvements in the growth patterns of infants from birth to 60 months. All cohorts displayed pronounced growth faltering in weightforage and heightforage from 6 to 12 months of age and fell significantly below both the NCHS reference values and mean values for healthy breastfed infants. In conclusion, reductions in Aboriginal infant mortality and infectious disease rates over the past 20 years have not been accompanied by improved growth. The persistence of child malnutrition in these communities may warrant a shift in attention from disease treatment and prevention to a better understanding of nutritional influences, particularly weaning practices, during infancy and early childhood.