OBJECTIVE: To describe the worldwide implementation of the WHO Child Growth Standards ('WHO standards'). DESIGN: A questionnaire on the adoption of the WHO standards was sent to health authorities. The questions concerned anthropometric indicators adopted, newly introduced indicators, age range, use of sex-specific charts, previously used references, classification system, activities undertaken to roll out the standards and reasons for non-adoption. SETTING: Worldwide. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and nineteen countries and territories. RESULTS: By April 2011, 125 countries had adopted the WHO standards, another twenty-five were considering their adoption and thirty had not adopted them. Preference for local references was the main reason for non-adoption. Weight-for-age was adopted almost universally, followed by length/height-for-age (104 countries) and weight-for-length/height (eighty-eight countries). Several countries (thirty-six) reported newly introducing BMI-for-age. Most countries opted for sex-specific charts and the Z-score classification. Many redesigned their child health records and updated recommendations on infant feeding, immunization and other health messages. About two-thirds reported incorporating the standards into pre-service training. Other activities ranged from incorporating the standards into computerized information systems, to providing supplies of anthropometric equipment and mobilizing resources for the standards' roll-out. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after their release, the WHO standards have been widely scrutinized and implemented. Countries have adopted and harmonized best practices in child growth assessment and established the breast-fed infant as the norm against which to assess compliance with children's right to achieve their full genetic growth potential.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the worldwide implementation of the WHO Child Growth Standards ('WHO standards'). DESIGN: A questionnaire on the adoption of the WHO standards was sent to health authorities. The questions concerned anthropometric indicators adopted, newly introduced indicators, age range, use of sex-specific charts, previously used references, classification system, activities undertaken to roll out the standards and reasons for non-adoption. SETTING: Worldwide. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and nineteen countries and territories. RESULTS: By April 2011, 125 countries had adopted the WHO standards, another twenty-five were considering their adoption and thirty had not adopted them. Preference for local references was the main reason for non-adoption. Weight-for-age was adopted almost universally, followed by length/height-for-age (104 countries) and weight-for-length/height (eighty-eight countries). Several countries (thirty-six) reported newly introducing BMI-for-age. Most countries opted for sex-specific charts and the Z-score classification. Many redesigned their child health records and updated recommendations on infant feeding, immunization and other health messages. About two-thirds reported incorporating the standards into pre-service training. Other activities ranged from incorporating the standards into computerized information systems, to providing supplies of anthropometric equipment and mobilizing resources for the standards' roll-out. CONCLUSIONS: Five years after their release, the WHO standards have been widely scrutinized and implemented. Countries have adopted and harmonized best practices in child growth assessment and established the breast-fed infant as the norm against which to assess compliance with children's right to achieve their full genetic growth potential.
Authors: E Ali; R Zachariah; S G Hinderaker; S Satyanarayana; W Kizito; P Alders; Z Shams; M Allaouna; B Draguez; P Delchevalerie; D A Enarson Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2012-11-15
Authors: Sani M Roy; David A Fields; Jonathan A Mitchell; Colin P Hawkes; Andrea Kelly; Gary D Wu; Patricia A DeRusso; Michal A Elovitz; Eileen Ford; Danielle Drigo; Babette S Zemel; Shana E McCormack Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2018-09-26 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Rebecca J Scharf; Elizabeth T Rogawski; Laura E Murray-Kolb; Angelina Maphula; Erling Svensen; Fahmida Tofail; Muneera Rasheed; Claudia Abreu; Angel Orbe Vasquez; Rita Shrestha; Laura Pendergast; Estomih Mduma; Beena Koshy; Mark R Conaway; James A Platts-Mills; Richard L Guerrant; Mark D DeBoer Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2018-02-02 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Hilary J Bethancourt; Mario Kratz; Shirley A A Beresford; M Geoffrey Hayes; Christopher W Kuzawa; Paulita L Duazo; Judith B Borja; Daniel T A Eisenberg Journal: Eur J Nutr Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 5.614