Nutritional status of poor preschool children in a defined area in Java--can weight monitoring influence nutrition?
Identification of undernutrition by routine Village Weighing Programmes (VWP) showed poor congruence with a nutrition survey in 193 preschool children from three defined areas of matched low economic status in Java. Measurements were similar to those of 50 years ago. Undernutrition varies from 3%-48% by different cutoff points. Twelve per cent are = less than -2SD for weight-for-height. Surveys can indicate population nutritional status for programme evaluation and planning. VWP results are not suitable for statistics. With less attention to recording measurements and more attention to local knowledge and common sense, more treatment of disease and individualized advice, VWPs could be more effective. Poverty remains the main constraint for improvement of population nutrition.
Geefhuysen
J
J
Hedera Project/COME, Medical Faculty, University of Gadjah Mada, Sekip Utara, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Soetrisno
R
R
D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty