OBJECTIVE: To identify useful predictors of morbidity of young children in central Africa. METHOD: Population-based follow-up study in Northern Kivu, Congo, of 842 children under two years of age who completed weekly follow-up interviews and health examinations during three months. Main outcome measures were crude and adjusted effects of summary measures of nutritional status on one-month cumulative incidence of malaria, respiratory illness, and diarrhoea. RESULTS: Anthropometric indicators appeared to perform badly in predicting morbidity. In contrast, non-anthropometric variables such as growth as judged by the caretaker, child's diet at the time of examination, and occurrence of disease in the month preceding the interval of observation were useful. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the 'Sick Child Initiative', simple tests and diagnostic tools to improve quality of both prevention and cure in first-level facilities need to be identified. Focusing on non-anthropometric indicators should be encouraged to offer a comprehensive appraisal of health status to all children.
OBJECTIVE: To identify useful predictors of morbidity of young children in central Africa. METHOD: Population-based follow-up study in Northern Kivu, Congo, of 842 children under two years of age who completed weekly follow-up interviews and health examinations during three months. Main outcome measures were crude and adjusted effects of summary measures of nutritional status on one-month cumulative incidence of malaria, respiratory illness, and diarrhoea. RESULTS: Anthropometric indicators appeared to perform badly in predicting morbidity. In contrast, non-anthropometric variables such as growth as judged by the caretaker, child's diet at the time of examination, and occurrence of disease in the month preceding the interval of observation were useful. CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the 'Sick Child Initiative', simple tests and diagnostic tools to improve quality of both prevention and cure in first-level facilities need to be identified. Focusing on non-anthropometric indicators should be encouraged to offer a comprehensive appraisal of health status to all children.
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Authors: Ghislain B Balaluka; Pépin S Nabugobe; Prudence N Mitangala; Nickel B Cobohwa; Carole Schirvel; Michèle W Dramaix; Philippe Donnen Journal: Int Breastfeed J Date: 2012-02-24 Impact factor: 3.461
Authors: Efrem d'Avila Ferreira; Márcia A Alexandre; Jorge L Salinas; André M de Siqueira; Silvana G Benzecry; Marcus V G de Lacerda; Wuelton M Monteiro Journal: Malar J Date: 2015-09-17 Impact factor: 2.979
Authors: Lise Denoeud-Ndam; Alassane Dicko; Elisabeth Baudin; Ousmane Guindo; Francesco Grandesso; Issaka Sagara; Estrella Lasry; Pedro Pablo Palma; Angeles M Lima Parra; Kasia Stepniewska; Abdoulaye A Djimde; Karen I Barnes; Ogobara K Doumbo; Jean-François Etard Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2015-06-12 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Ibironke Olofin; Christine M McDonald; Majid Ezzati; Seth Flaxman; Robert E Black; Wafaie W Fawzi; Laura E Caulfield; Goodarz Danaei Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-05-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: D Das; R F Grais; E A Okiro; K Stepniewska; R Mansoor; S van der Kam; D J Terlouw; J Tarning; K I Barnes; P J Guerin Journal: BMC Med Date: 2018-10-29 Impact factor: 8.775