Anthropometric measurement of malnutrition in children in Zaria, Nigeria.

In a combined hospital and community study anthropometric measurements were made on 2134 children under three years of age, of whom 1445 were underweight children attending a hospital nutrition clinic, 484 were unselected village children and 205 were well nourished controls. Weight and length data were analysed to determine the prevalence of different degrees of nutritional deficit in the three groups at different ages. The U.S.A. Academy of Sciences (1976) median weight/age, length/age and weight/length were used as reference standards (1). Prevalence of nutritional deficit in the groups was estimated differently by the three anthropometric indicators, weight/age giving the highest estimate and identifying not only 89% of the "malnourished" but also 48% of "village" children as significantly underweight for age. Analysis of length measurements identified an increased prevalence of stunting with advancing age in all groups and a significant peak prevalence of wasting in village children during the second year of life. The possible reasons for this nutritional crisis during the second year of life are discussed. The operational significance of the different estimates of prevalence of nutritional deficit given by the three anthropometric indicators is also discussed. It is suggested that a combined hospital and community study of malnutrition is of value in planning nutritional intervention.