The objectives were to determine the range of maternal height associated with growth velocity of older infants and the magnitude of this association in an indigent population. Maternal height and infant length-for-age z scores (LAZ) were positively correlated at both 6 (n = 412, r = 0.324) and 12 (n = 388, r = 0.335) months (P < 0.0001) and for maternal heights from 131 to 164 cm. Maternal height is independently associated with infant LAZ and stunting (LAZ <-2) at both 6 and 12 months (P < 0.001) and with linear growth velocity from 6 to 12 months (P = 0.0023).
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00098202.