The Use of the Height Census of Schoolchildren in Central America and Panama

Abstract

Height censuses - involving the measurement of all children attending first grade - have been used in Central America to detect growth retardation to screen high-risk groups and to target social interventions. Data on age sex residence, and socio-economic characteristics are obtained from the teachers. Studies carried out by INCAP hare confirmed the simplicity and low cost of analyses of height-census data as well as their reliability and validity. In the Central American region data on height retardation reflect the variation found among countries when other socioeconomic and biological indicators such as illiteracy infant and child mortality and social services are considered.