Predictive factors for flatfoot: The role of age and footwear in children in urban and rural communities in South West Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Flatfoot is common in children and its prevalence influenced by several factors. This study investigated the role of age and type of foot wear as predictors of flatfoot in school age children in urban and rural areas in south-western Nigeria.

METHODS

560 children between 6 and 12 years, divided into two groups; rural and urban were studied. Each subject's static footprint was taken on a white duplicating paper after which the instep was measured for classification into high arch, normal, flat or severe flat. The BMI of each subject was calculated from the anthropometric data. The type of footwear with which the subjects were shod was also recorded. Data analysis was by Epi Info statistical package version 3.5.1 (2008).

RESULTS

Chi-square showed a significant (p<0.05) association between the presence of flatfoot, age and type of footwear. Comparison of the prevalence of flatfoot by age group indicated a significant difference at age 10 years. Simple logistic regressions, however, showed that age was a significant (p<0.05) predictor for flat foot while the type of footwear was not.

CONCLUSION

In this study, age is the primary predictor for flatfoot while the type of footwear is not.