Validity of mid upper arm circumference for screening acute undernutrition among preschool children in Shimoga, Karnataka

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Author Details : Vijaykumar Mane*, M V. Sagar, Revathy R

Volume : 5, Issue : 4, Year : 2018

Article Page : 227-230

https://doi.org/10.18231/2394-6776.2018.0052

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Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometry is an accepted and most widely used method for assessing the nutritional status of children. Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) has been recommended to be used as a proxy indicator to screen for acute undernutrition in place of Weight for Height index as it requires no scales, measuring devices or graph plotting.
Objective: To study the validity of mid upper arm circumference in detection of acute undernutrition (wasting) among preschool children in the study setting.
|Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in the field practice area of PHC Aaynoor, Shimoga District, Karnataka state for a duration of 1 year from January 2013 to December 2013. Cluster sampling technique was used for sample selection and 400 preschool children of either sex in the age group of 1-5 years (12- 59 months) were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standard techniques.
Results: The prevalence of both moderate and severe wasting as detected by MUAC was 27 (6.75%) and 3 (0.75%), which is less than half of that detected by WHZ. MUAC had a sensitivity of 23.2% and 14.3% respectively in detection of moderate and severe wasting. It could identify higher number of wasted children among males and among children aged 12 – 23 months.
Conclusion: Current MUAC cut offs are inappropriate for detection of wasting among preschool children.

Keywords: Malnutrition, Mid upper arm circumference, Validity, Sensitivity & specificity.

How to cite : Mane V, Sagar M V, Revathy R, Validity of mid upper arm circumference for screening acute undernutrition among preschool children in Shimoga, Karnataka. Indian J Forensic Community Med 2018;5(4):227-230

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