GENDER COMPARISON OF BODY HEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS IN ALBANIAN CHILDREN AGED 6.5-15.5 YEARS OLD

Abstract

Growth is a multifaceted process, where development in body size leads to morphological and functional changes. The aim of this scientific paper is to create a references database on the current status on body height of Albanian children (6.5-15.5 years old) and to compare the current status of body height by gender. The study aimed at recruiting a large sample of Albanian children (table 1). The sample was between 6.3 and 15.7 years old and originated from 23 schools (table 2) in Albania (n = 10585). The results of this study show that the comparison between boys and girls presents significant changes (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) for these age groups; boys taller than girls aged 7, 8, 8.5, 9; girls taller than boys aged 11.5- 12.5 years while boys taller than girls aged 13.5- 15.5 years, Comparison data by gender showed that boys have the highest value of the difference in the average increase in body height at the age of 15.5 years with a value of 10.5 cm (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) compared to girls while girls have the highest value of the difference in the increase in the average body height in age 11.5 years with a value of 2.6 cm (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) compared to boys.