Screening for childhood malnutrition in rural Bolivia

Abstract:

Height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference measurements were made on all children less than five years of age in the Montero region of Bolivia, as part of a household survey. Malnutrition was a common finding among children 0-4 years, with 17% found to be low weight-for-age (wasted) and 37% low height-for-age (stunted). As a screening measure, low height-for-age did not identify onefifth (21%) of the low weight-for-age children. The mid-upper arm circumference served as an effective screening measure for low weight-for-age children, although the choice of cutpoints is dependent on the desired sensitivity and specificity of the screening test. © 1981 Oxford University Press.

Año de publicación:

1981

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus