Correctly identifying malnourished or at-risk children is the critical first step towards appropriate nutritional interventions. To improve weight-for-height assessment and classification of nutritional status, we present a novel, low-cost, weight-for-height slide chart. We also describe a target weight system for monitoring children's progress towards nutritional recovery.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
PelletierDL, FrongilloEAJr, SchroederDG, HabichtJP.The effects of malnutrition on child mortality in developing countries.Bull World Health Organ1995; 73(4): 443–8.
DibleyMJ, GoldsbyJB, StaehlingNW, TrowbridgeFL.Development of normalized curves for the international growth reference: historical and technical considerations.Am J Clin Nutr1987; 46(5): 736–48.
4.
HamerC, KvatumK, JeffriesD, AllenS.Detection of severe protein-energy malnutrition by nurses in The Gambia.Arch Dis Child2004; 89(2): 181–4.
5.
MyattM, KharaT, CollinsS.A review of methods to detect cases of severely malnourished children in the community for their admission into community-based therapeutic care programs.Food Nutr Bull2006; 27 (3 Suppl): S7–23.
6.
Valid, International.Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC).A Field Manual.2006 [cited 31.8.2007]; First Edition: Available from: http://www.validinternational.org (cited 31 August 2007)
7.
CogillB.Anthropometric Indicators Measurement Guide.Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance (FANTA) Project, Academy for Educational Development, Washington, D.C.2003
8.
de OnisM, OnyangoAW, Van den BroeckJ, ChumleaWC, MartorellR.Measurement and standardization protocols for anthropometry used in the construction of a new international growth reference.Food Nutr Bull2004; 25 (1 Suppl): S27–36.
9.
Community-based management of severe acute malnutrition. A Joint Statement by the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition and the United Nations Children's Fund. 2007; Available from: http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/statement_commbased_malnutrition/en/index.html (cited 01 July 2007)
SealA, KeracM.Operational implications of using 2006 World Health Organization growth standards in nutrition programmes: secondary data analysis.BMJ2007; 334(7596): 733