The determination of anthropometric cut-off points for protein-energy malnutrition using the maximum chi-squared statistical technique.
The Wellcome cut-off points for the classification of protein-energy malnutrition are arbitrary values. A simple technique, with the use of maximum chi-squared statistics, for the determination of cut-off points for anthropometric indicators for the assessment of malnutrition is presented. This technique has been applied to pre-school-age children in Lae, Papua New Guinea. In this population the cut-off points for the anthropometric indicators related to age, of body weight, height, triceps skinfold, arm circumference and arm muscle circumference, have been determined as 87%, 90%, 97%, 93% and 100%, respectively, of the international standards.
Kow
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F
Department of Chemical Technology, Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Morobe Province.
Balasubramaniam
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E
D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology