A study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that children born at a higher altitude, that is, 1,524 meters above sea level, tend to be born smaller.
In addition, they are also likely to have stunted growth.
In fact, if the children are born in an ideal home environment according to WHO standards,
such as having good health coverage, higher living conditions, and a highly educated mother, these risks still exist.
At an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, children are born with shorter lengths.
The study looked at height data from 950,000 children in 59 countries.
In addition to slowing growth, the study also found that giving birth in high altitudes was at greater risk of death.
Most of the risks occur in the period before and after birth.
It is likely that the condition is caused by lower oxygen levels at higher altitudes.
Researchers suggest that health workers provide more education to pregnant women to control the effects of this height on their fetuses.
“The first step is to uncover the complex relationships linking height, hypoxia and fetal growth,” said study co-author Kaleab Baye, director of the Center for Food Science and Nutrition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
