East African medical journal
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To compare ventilatory capacity indices in healthy Malawian school children with those of other ethnic Africans and Caucasians. ⋯ Prediction equations calculated in this study should be used for interpretation of ventilatory capacity indices in Malawian children instead of reference values for Caucasians or ethnic scaling factors. Computation of regional reference values for ventilatory capacity indices shall be continued. It shall embrace additional factors contributing to variance in respiratory functions such as customary physical activity, local environmental conditions, altitude of residence, nutritional status and smoking.