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Implication of new WHO growth standards on estimated prevalence and identification of early risk factors for malnutrition in rural Malawian infants
Author(s) -
Prost Marc Andre,
Jahn Andreas,
Floyd Sian,
Mvula Hazzie,
Mwaiyeghele Eleneus,
Mwinuka Venance,
Mhango Thomas,
Crampin Amelia C,
McGrath Nuala,
Fine Paul E. M.,
Glynn Judith R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.299.4
Subject(s) - wasting , underweight , malnutrition , anthropometry , medicine , weight for age , environmental health , population , standard score , demography , pediatrics , body mass index , overweight , statistics , mathematics , pathology , sociology , endocrinology
We assessed how switching from NCHS to new WHO child growth standards affects estimated prevalence of wasting, underweight and stunting, and the identification of risk factors. Malawian children (n=1328) were visited at 0–4 months and 11–15 months. Demographic, socio‐economic, health history, anthropometry, maternal nutritional status and feeding practices variables were collected. Weight‐for‐length, weight‐for‐age and length‐for‐age were calculated using both references. In early infancy, prevalence estimates were 2.9, 6.1, and 8.5 folds higher for stunting, underweight and wasting respectively using WHO standards compared to the NCHS reference (p<0.001 for all). At one year wasting and stunting did not differ significantly according to reference used but prevalence of underweight was half that with the NCHS reference (p<0.001). Patterns of risk factors for malnutrition at one year were similar between growth references for all outcomes. Results suggest differences in prevalence estimates depend on population's nutritional status and should not be assumed from previous findings. Adopting the new standards will have implications for feeding programs targeting lactating mothers. Risk factors identified with WHO standards remain comparable to those previously found with NCHS reference in similar settings. This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust.