A comparative study of growth, vision acuity and dental health status of the schoolchildren of marital immigrants and aboriginal and non-aboriginal Taiwanese in Nantou County

• Main Authors: Yu-Ru Lin, 林玉如
• Other Authors: Alan C. Tsai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/66696817836681603859

碩士 === 亞洲大學 === 生活應用科學學系碩士班 === 95 === Objectives -The objectives of this research were to compare growth, vision acuity and dental health status and to identify their potential impacting factors among the schoolchildren of the marital immigrants, the aborigines and the Han-Taiwanese in Taiwan. Method-Using a purposive sampling scheme, the study analyzed the height, weight, BMI, vision acuity and dental health status of 377 schoolchildren of marital immigrants, 339 of the aborigines and 958 of the Han Taiwanese. The study also analyzed the potential impacting factors on these health parameters. Results-Boys of the marital immigrants grew as well as the Han-Taiwanese, whereas boys of the aborigines were 2.7-3.1 cm shorter by the fourth grade compared to boys of the other two ethic groups. However, no differences in BMI were observed. In girls, significant differences in height and weight were observed among the three ethnic groups. By grade four, girls of the immigrants and the aborigines were 2-3.4 cm shorter than girls of the Han-Taiwanese whereas girls of the marital immigrants were significantly lighter than the other two ethnic groups. The aboriginal girls had significantly higher BMI compared to girls of the other two ethnic groups. The aboriginal schoolchildren had better vision acuity compared to schoolchildren of the other two ethnic groups. Visual acuity was 1.24 for children of the aborigines, 0.98 for children of the marital immigrants and 0.94 for children of the Han-Taiwanese. The aboriginal children had the worst dental status compared to the other two ethnic groups. The dental caries indexes are 6.34 for Han-Taiwanese children, 4.24 for children of the immigrants and 4.21 for the aboriginal children whereas the total dental caries repair index were 0.99, 0.54 and 0.34, respectively. Conclusion-Results of this study suggest a gender difference in growth rate of the children of marital immigrants. Boys of the marital immigrants have the same height and weight compared to the boys of the Han-Taiwanese but girls of the marital immigrants are lighter and shorter compared to their Han-Taiwanese counterparts. While the real cause of this gender difference is not precisely known, the traditional boy-preference in Taiwanese culture may play a role. The strong preference toward male gender, especially the first child, by many Taiwanese parents and grand parents may create a difference in care and nutritional status and that may impact growth. On the other hand, the aboriginal boys and girls were shorter but not lighter compared to the Han-Taiwanese children, and their BMI was the same in boys but higher in girls compared to their Han-Taiwanese counterparts. Again, the real cause is not precisely known, but genetic differences appear probable. The aboriginal children have better visual acuity compared to their Han-Taiwanese and marital immigrant counterparts. The aboriginal children have more total dental caries but fewer repairs compared to their Han-Taiwanese and marital immigrant counterparts. It is conceivable that the differences in sociodemographic status and lifestyle factors such as the number of hours of reading time and TV-watching, and the level of outdoor activities may play a role. Results of this study suggest that growth impairment do exist in daughters but not boys of marital immigrants compared to their Han-Taiwanese counterparts. Care should be taken to prevent a gender-related bias in growth and development of these children.