Arm circumference in the surveillance of protein-calorie malnutrition in Baghdad.

A comparison is made between the percentage of Boston weight for age standards and the percentages of mid-upper arm for age standards of 777 Baghdad children aged 3-72 months. They showed a significantly high correlation of 0.92 (P smaller than 0.001). The percentage wieght for age could be predicted from percentage arm for age standard within plus or minus 16%. A constant midpoint arm circumference standard of 16.5 cm was suggested for use in children aged 13-72 months, when precise ages are unknown. This seems to work as well as the age specific arm standard in this age group, and is age independent. The constant arm standard is probably as satisfactory as that of weight for age, and has many practical advantages, especially under field conditions, when precise ages of children are unknown.