OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to describe worldwide growth-faltering patterns by using the new World Health Organization (WHO) standards. METHODS: We analyzed information available from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition, comprising data from national anthropometric surveys from 54 countries. Anthropometric data comprise weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, and weight-for-length/height z scores. The WHO regions were used to aggregate countries: Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; North Africa and Middle East; South Asia; and sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS: Sample sizes ranged from 1000 to 47 000 children. Weight for length/height starts slightly above the standard in children aged 1 to 2 months and falters slightly until 9 months of age, picking up after that age and remaining close to the standard thereafter. Weight for age starts close to the standard and falters moderately until reaching approximately -1 z at 24 months and remaining reasonably stable after that. Length/height for age also starts close to the standard and falters dramatically until 24 months, showing noticeable bumps just after 24, 36, and 48 months but otherwise increasing slightly after 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of child growth patterns in 54 countries with WHO standards shows that growth faltering in early childhood is even more pronounced than suggested by previous analyses based on the National Center for Health Statistics reference. These findings confirm the need to scale up interventions during the window of opportunity defined by pregnancy and the first 2 years of life, including prevention of low birth weight and appropriate infant feeding practices.
OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to describe worldwide growth-faltering patterns by using the new World Health Organization (WHO) standards. METHODS: We analyzed information available from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition, comprising data from national anthropometric surveys from 54 countries. Anthropometric data comprise weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, and weight-for-length/height z scores. The WHO regions were used to aggregate countries: Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; North Africa and Middle East; South Asia; and sub-Saharan Africa. RESULTS: Sample sizes ranged from 1000 to 47 000 children. Weight for length/height starts slightly above the standard in children aged 1 to 2 months and falters slightly until 9 months of age, picking up after that age and remaining close to the standard thereafter. Weight for age starts close to the standard and falters moderately until reaching approximately -1 z at 24 months and remaining reasonably stable after that. Length/height for age also starts close to the standard and falters dramatically until 24 months, showing noticeable bumps just after 24, 36, and 48 months but otherwise increasing slightly after 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of child growth patterns in 54 countries with WHO standards shows that growth faltering in early childhood is even more pronounced than suggested by previous analyses based on the National Center for Health Statistics reference. These findings confirm the need to scale up interventions during the window of opportunity defined by pregnancy and the first 2 years of life, including prevention of low birth weight and appropriate infant feeding practices.
Authors: Nancy F Krebs; Manolo Mazariegos; Antoinette Tshefu; Carl Bose; Neelofar Sami; Elwyn Chomba; Waldemar Carlo; Norman Goco; Mark Kindem; Linda L Wright; K Michael Hambidge Journal: Food Nutr Bull Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 2.069
Authors: Keriann H Paul; Monica Muti; Bernard Chasekwa; Mduduzi N N Mbuya; Rufaro C Madzima; Jean H Humphrey; Rebecca J Stoltzfus Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2010-08-04 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Benjamin F Arnold; Ranjiv S Khush; Padmavathi Ramaswamy; Alicia G London; Paramasivan Rajkumar; Prabhakar Ramaprabha; Natesan Durairaj; Alan E Hubbard; Kalpana Balakrishnan; John M Colford Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2010-12-13 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Charlotte E Lane; Emily A Bobrow; Diuedonne Ndatimana; Gilles F Ndayisaba; Linda S Adair Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 3.092