All issues > Volume 10(11); 1967

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1967;10(11):585-598. Published online November 30, 1967.

Studies on Height, Sitting height and Relative sitting height of Korean Primary school children in Urban areas

Dae Un Kim¹

¹Pediatrics Major,Department of Medicine, Graduate School,Seoul National University

Abstract

It is prerequisite to evaluate properly the children’s physical growth and development in the field of child health. Numerous statistical studies on the physical growth and development of Korean children had been published by many authors. Meredith, Tanner and Falkner pointed out the trend of acceleration in the children’s physical growth and development. Therefore the need of continuous renewal for those data on physical growth and development are obvious. Because the differences in environment, culture and economic conditions between urban and rural areas may also affect their growth processes, the author undertook the studies especially in urban areas. Heights and sitting heights of primary school children in Seoul and Taejon areas were measured during the period of March through May, 1967. For the measurement cross sectional method was used rather than longitudinal one. The Total sample size is 7,131 (boys 3, 904 girls 3,227). The age is divided at 6 month-intervals from 6 to 12 years of age in both sexes. (Table 1) Mean values, standard deviations and probable errors in relation to age and sex were taken in height and sitting height statistically, and relative sitting heights were obtained (Table 2). The percentile distribution tables were presented in 7 classes of 3%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 97%, and percentile graphs for plotting height and sitting height in primary school children were drawn (Table 3 & Fig. 1,2). The mean height at 6 years of age is 111.5cm and 111. 3cm, and the mean sitting height at the same age is 63. 7cm and 63.3cm in boys and girls respectively. The average gain in height during the period of 6 to 12 years of age is about 2. 3cm and 2. 4cm in 6 months and that in sitting height is approximately 1.0cm and 1. lcm in 6 months in boys and girls respectively. The heights and sitting heights in boys are greater than in girls 6 through 11 years of age. After this period of age girls’ growth is dominant (Table 2 & Fig. 3,4) The relatve sitting height is decreased from 57.1 % to 54.1% in boys, and from 56.9% to 54.8% in girls between the ages of 6 and 12 years. During the period of 6 to 10 years of age the relative sitting heights in boys and girls showed no remarkable differences. After 11 years of age differences become apparent. (Table 2 & Fig. 5) Comparing these data with those previously published ones on Korean children, the present data gererally show higher mean values in heights and sitting heights, and lower percentages in relative sitting heights in both sexes. In comparison with American children (Iowa), these data are markedly lower in heights and sitting heights but higher in relative sitting heights in both sexes. In comparison with Japanese children, no significant differences were revealed in all items in both sexes. (Table 4~6 & Fig. 6~11) The author believe these data will contribute in evaluating the physical growth and development of Korean primary school children in urban areas.

Keywords :