26. Isaacs, P. C. Growth Parameters and Blood Values in Arabic Children, from High, Medium and Low Socioeconomic Levels. Ph.D. Dissertation, Brigham Young University, 1988: 109 pp.

Growth parameters and blood values in Arabic children were compared from high, medium and low socioeconomic families in the West Bank. Subjects (n=251, 164 males and 87 females) had growth values recorded on NCHS/CDC growth charts. Blood values were compared to World Health Organization norms for ages five through 10 years. Multivariate analysis of variance included height, weight, hemoglobin and hematocrit. Children in the high socioeconomic group weighed more than the children in the megroup (p=<0.01) in height in the high group compared to the medium or low socioeconomic groups. No significant difference was found in the blood values in the three groups. Children from families in the high socioeconomic group are taller than the medium and low groups but only weigh more than the medium socioeconomic group. Several recommendations for further research are presented.