Calcaneal Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation and Speed of Sound Measurements in a Population of Nigerian Children: Reference Data and the Influence of Sociodemographic Variables.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to establish a reference database of calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and the speed of sound (SOS) in a healthy Nigerian population of children aged 6 to 14 years and also to investigate the influence of sociodemographic and anthropometric variables on them.

Methods: The BUA and SOS of 1016 healthy children were measured by quantitative ultrasound densitometry. Height and weight were measured with a stadiometer and weighing balance, respectively, whereas the sociodemographic parameters of the participants were collected on a semistructured questionnaire.