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 Printable version |
Nutritional surveys: analysis and interpretation of weight-for-height index |
Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones / Santé . Volume 2, Number 6, 385-9, Novembre-Décembre 1992, Étude originale
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 Résumé
Article gratuit
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Author(s) : Denis Coulombier, Bernard Pécoul, Gilles Desvé, Alain Moren |
Summary : The assessment of acute malnutrition in emergency situations is based on cross-sectional surveys involving representative samples of children aged 6 to 59 months, that estimate the proportion of children with a weight-for-height [W/H] index below a pre-defined cut-off value. We reviewed 29 such surveys carried out by Médecins Sans Frontières. The objectives were: (1) to compare the informative value of the malnutrition indexes based on the W/H index expressed as percentages of medians versus the z-score\; (2) to compare the information provided by indicators based on cut-off values versus indicators based on distribution according to the z-score (standardized prevalence)\; (3) to compare the information provided by age-specific malnutrition indicators. The results show that (1) the expression of W/H indexes as z-scores is more sensitive than expression as percentage of median for identifying severe acute malnutrition\; (2) standardized prevalences complement the information given by z-score cut-off indicators\; (3) age-specific acute malnutrition indicators are more sensitive for detecting severe acute malnutrition affecting young age groups. |
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