Background
Index | Nutritional problem measured | Indicator |
---|---|---|
Weight-for-Height/Length (WFH/L) | Severe wasting | WFH/L < −3 SD |
Moderate wasting | WFH/L < −3 SD and WFH/L ≥ −2 SD | |
Global wasting | WFH/L < −2 SD | |
Height/Length-for-age (H/LFA) | Severe stunting | H/LFA < −3 SD |
Moderate stunting | H/LFA < −2 SD and H/LFA ≥ −3 SD | |
Global stunting | H/LFA < −2 SD | |
Weight-for-age (WFA) | Severe underweight | WFA < −3 SD |
Moderate underweight | WFA < −2 SD and WFA ≥ −3 SD | |
Global underweight | WFA < −2 SD | |
Measurement | Nutritional problem measured | Indicator |
MUAC | Severe wasting | MUAC < 115 mm |
Moderate wasting | MUAC < 125 mm and MUAC ≥ 115 mm | |
Global wasting | MUAC < 125 mm | |
Oedema | Oedematous malnutrition | Bilateral oedema below the ankles: + |
Bilateral oedema up to knees: ++ | ||
Bilateral oedema up to arms and higher:+++ |
Methods
Exclusion criteria
Search strategy
Data extraction, analysis and reporting
Results
Performance of nutritional measurement/indices to detect changes in nutritional situations
Continent
a
| N (%) |
Africa | 11 (52) |
Asia | 9 (43) |
Latin America | 1(5) |
Setting
| N (%) |
Rural | 15 (71) |
Urban | 3 (14) |
Both | 3 (14) |
Type of study
| N (%) |
Longitudinal study | 9 (43) |
Repeated cross-sectional studies | 7 (33) |
Cohort | 3 (14) |
Secondary data analysis | 1(5) |
Growth monitoring data (health centre) | 1(5) |
Age group
| N (%) |
0 to 59 months | 4 (19) |
6 to 59 months | 4 (19) |
12 to 59 months | 3 (14) |
6 to 36 months | 2 (10) |
Otherb | 8 (38) |
Independent variable
| N (%) |
Seasonal change | 17 (81) |
Devaluation of CFA franc | 1(5) |
Drought and financial crisis 1997/1998 | 1(5) |
Herd dynamic, food, biophysical and seasonality | 1(5) |
Seasonal change and change over the years | 1(5) |
Dependent variable
| N (%) |
WFHL | 18 (86) |
WFA | 13 (62) |
H/LFA | 12 (57) |
MUAC | 7 (33) |
Weight | 7 (33) |
Height | 7 (33) |
MUAC-for-Age | 3 (14) |
Otherc | 6 (29) |
Number of dependent variables
| N (%) |
One | 4 (19) |
Two | 1(5) |
Three | 8 (38) |
Four | 1(5) |
Five | 4 (19) |
Six + | 3 (14) |
Variable treatment
| N (%) |
Change in mean and prevalence of indice(s) | 10 (48) |
Change in mean indice(s) | 7 (33) |
Change in prevalence of indice(s) | 6 (29) |
Standard | N (%) |
NCHS | 11 (52) |
WHO | 7 (33) |
Harvard | 2 (10) |
CDC-2000 | 1(5) |
Unit
| N (%) |
Z-score | 14 (67) |
% median | 5 (24) |
% of median & Z-score | 2 (10) |
Author | Year | Country | Setting | Type of study | Data collection period | Sample size | Age | Independent variables | Dependent variable | Standard | Unit |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bairagi, R [69]. | 1980 | Bangladesh | Rural | Longitudinal study | Aug 1974 - Nov 1975 | 376, 326 and 356 | 12-36 m | Seasonal change | WFA | Harvard | % median |
Bechir, M. et al. [70] | 2010 | Chad | Rural | Repeated cross-sectional studies | May/June 2007 and October 2007 | 653, 644 and 579, 539 | 0-59 m | Seasonal change | WFH | WHO | Z-score |
Benefice, E. et al. [25] | 1984 | Senegal | Rural | Longitudinal study | March 1980, Aug/Sept 1980, Jan/Feb 1981, June 1981 | 114, 106, 88 and 90 | 12-59 m | Seasonal change | MUAC, MC, TSF, WFH | NCHS | % median |
Block, S. A. et al. [71] | 2003 | Indonisia | Both | Repeated cross-sectional studies | 1997/98. Repeated every 3 months approx | From 5450 to 10553 | 0-59 m | Drought and financial crisis 1997/1998 | WFA, WFH | NCHS | Z-score |
Branca, F. et al. [72] | 1993 | Ethipia | Rural | Longitudinal study | May 1987 - June 1988 | 60 for WFH, 40 for HFA in 0-59 | 0-59 m | Seasonal change | Height increment, WFH/L, H/LFA | NCHS | Z-score |
Briend, A. et al. [15] | 1989 | Bangladesh | Rural | Longitudinal study | Dec 1984-Dec 1987 | 413 average (351–514) | 6-36 m | Seasonal change & change over the years | Weight, WFA, H/LFA, WFH/L, MUAC | NCHS | % median & Z-score |
Brown, K. et al.[26] | 1982 | Bangladesh | Rural | Longitudinal study | April 1978 - June 1979 | 174 | 6-59 m | Seasonal change | % expected Weight & Height/leng th gain, WFA, H/LFA, WFH/L, MUAC-for-age and TSF-for-age | NCHS | % median |
Chikhungu, L. C. et al. [73] | 2014 | Malawi | Both | Repeated cross-sectional studies | March 2004 - Feb 2005 | 4012 and 2675 | 6-59 m | Seasonal change | WFH/L, WFA, HFA | WHO | Z-score |
Egata, G. et al. [22] | 2013 | Ethiopia | Rural | Longitudinal study | July 2010 - Feb 2012 | 2132 | 6-36 m | Seasonal change | Weight, WFH/L, MUAC | WHO | Z-score |
Garenne et al. [27] | 2012 | Senegal | Rural | Cohort | May 1983 - Nov 1983 - May 1984 - Nov 1984 | 775, 988 and 1040 | 6-23 m | Seasonal change | Weight, length, HC, MUAC, TSF, SSF, MC, BMI, WFA, WFH/L | CDC - 2000 | Z-score |
Hillbruner, C. et al. [74] | 2008 | Bangladesh | Urban | Repeated cross-sectional studies | Aug 2002, Feb 2003 and Aug/Sept 2003 | 185 | 6-72 m | Seasonal change | % expected growth, WFH/L, H/LFA | WHO | Z-score |
Huong, L. T. et al. [23] | 2014 | Vietnam | Rural | Repeated cross-sectional studies | March, June, Sept, Dec 2012 | 195, 237, 196 and 225 | 24-59 m | Seasonal change | Height, weight, WFH/L, WFA,H/LFA | WHO | Z-score |
Loutan, L. et al. [24] | 1984 | Niger | Rural | Cohort | Aug 1980 - Sept 1981 | 29 and 32 | 12-59 m and 0–59 m | Seasonal change | WFH/L, MUAC, TSF | Harvard | % median |
Marin, C. M. et al. [28] | 1996 | Peru | Urban | Longitudinal study | Jan 1987 - Oct 1993 | Min 100 per month, 4023 to 7946 per year | 0-35 m | Seasonal change | WFH/L, WFA, H/LFA | NCHS | Z-score |
Martin-Prevel, Y. et al. [29] | 2000 | Congo | Urban | Repeated cross-sectional studies | 1993 then 1996 | 2581 and 1576 | 4-23 m | Devaluation of CFA franc | Birth weight, WFH/L, H/LFA | NCHS | Z-score |
Meshram, I. I. et al. [75] | 2014 | India | Rural | Repeated cross-sectional studies | June/Sept 2007, Oct/Jan and Feb/May 2008 | 833, 527 and 555 children | 12-59 m | Seasonal change | WFH/L, WFA, H/LFA | WHO | Z-score |
Miller, J. et al. [30] | 2013 | West Timor | Rural | Nested cohort in cross-sectional survey | March 2010 - Nov 2010 | 80 | 6 to 59 months | Seasonal change | WFH/L, H/LFA, WFA, MUAC-for-age, TSF-for-age | WHO | Z-score |
Mude, A. G. et al. [17] | 2006 | Kenya | Rural | Secondary data analysis | Feb 2000 - May 2005 | between 17 and 58 | 6-59 m | herd dynamic, food, biophysical and seasonality | MUAC | NCHS | Z-score |
Panter-Brick, C. [31] | 1997 | Nepal | Rural | Longitudinal study | 1982 (8 rounds: Feb/march to Sept/Oct) | 53 to 71 | 0-50 m | Seasonal change | Weight, Height, WFH/L, WFA, L/HFA | NCHS | Z-score |
Shell-Duncan, B. [76] | 1995 | Kenya | Rural | Longitudinal study | From feb 1990 to Jan 1991 | 54 | 6 m-10 y | Seasonal change | Weight, Height, MUAC, BMI, WFH/L, MUAC-for-Age, WFA, H/LFA | NCHS | % median & Z-score |
Wright, J. et al.[77] | 2001 | Zimbabwe | Both | Growth monitoring | Jan 1988-March 1993 and Jan 1994-Dec 1995 | 50 districts | 0-59 m | Seasonal change | WFA | NCHS | % median |
Author | WFA | H/LFA | WFH/L | MUAC | MUAC/A | TSF | TSF/A | W | H | BMI | MC | SSF | HC | BW | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean | % | Mean | % | Mean | % | Mean | % | Mean | % | Mean | % | Mean | Mean | Mean | Mean | Mean | Mean | Mean | Mean | |
Bairagi, R. [69] | + | + | ||||||||||||||||||
Bechir, M. et al. [70] | + | |||||||||||||||||||
Benefice, E. et al. [25] | - | + | + | + | ||||||||||||||||
Block, S. A. et al. [71] | + | + | ||||||||||||||||||
Branca, F. et al. [72] | + | - | + | |||||||||||||||||
Briend, A. et al. [15] | −/+ | −/+ | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||
Brown, K. et al. [26] | - | + | + | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||||
Chikhungu, L. C. et al. [73] | + | + | - | |||||||||||||||||
Egata, G. et al. [22] | - | + | - | + | ||||||||||||||||
Garenne et al. [27] | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | ||||||||||
Hillbruner, C. et al. [74] | + | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||||||
Huong, L. T. et al. [23] | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Loutan, L. et al. [24] | - | - | + | |||||||||||||||||
Marin, C. M. et al. [28] | + | - | + | |||||||||||||||||
Martin-Prevel, Y. et al. [29] | + | + | + | + | + | |||||||||||||||
Meshram, I. I. et al. [75] | + | + | + | + | + | + | ||||||||||||||
Miller, J. et al. [30] | + | - | + | + | + | - | + | |||||||||||||
Mude, A. G. et al. [17] | + | |||||||||||||||||||
Panter-Brick, C. [31] | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | ||||||||||||
Shell-Duncan, B. [76] | - | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | ||||||||||||
Wright, J. et al. [77] | −/+ |
Discussion
Simplicity
Acceptability
Cost
Independence of age
Reliability and accuracy
Sensitivity and specificity (to mortality)
Measure or index | Detect short term change | Detect long term change | Simplicity | Acceptability | Cost | Independence of age | Reliability and accuracy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WFH/L | +++ | ++ | + | +++ | ++ | ++ | + |
WFA | ++ | ++ | + | +++ | ++ | +++ | + |
H/LFA | ++ | +++ | + | +++ | ++ | +++ | + |
MUAC | +++ | ++ | +++ | +++ | +++ | ++ | ++ |