Analysis of the growth and development status and trends of preschool children from 2017 to 2022

Objective: To understand the growth and development status of preschool children in a hospital in Nanning City, so as to provide a scientific basis for further development of child health care in the region. Methods: The physical examination data of preschool children in a hospital in Nanning City from 2017 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The Z-score was calculated using the 2006 WHO child growth criteria as the evaluation criterion. The growth and development status of preschool children were evaluated by Z-score method (standard deviation separation method). Chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test were used for analysis. Results: A total of 8,895 subjects were included in this study, including 4,860 boys (54.64%) and 4,035 girls (45.36%). From 2017 to 2022, the underweight and wasting rates of preschool children were decreased from 3.92% and 3.03% to 1.72% and 1.19%, respectively. There was little change in the rates of stunted growth, overweight and obesity, but boys had higher rates of overweight and obesity than girls in all years. Trend test showed that preschool children had declining trends in underweight rate and wasting rate from 2017 to 2022 (underweight Z=-3.860, P＜ 0.001; wasting Z=-2.845, P=0.004). With the increase of age, the rate of underweight, wasting, overweight and obesity of preschool children showed an increasing trend (Z=4.081, 2.631, 3.104, 3.098, all P＜0.05), while the rate of stunted growth showed a decreasing trend (Z=-2.019, P=0.044). Conclusion: The growth and development of preschool children are generally good. The underweight rate and wasting rate show a decreasing trend year by year. There are gender differences in overweight and obesity rates but no significant changes from year to year. Attention should be paid to the malnutrition of preschool children, especially overweight and obesity in boys.