title: Implementation of the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study in Ghana.
abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) African site was Accra, Ghana. Its sample was drawn from 10 affluent residential areas where earlier research had demonstrated the presence of a child subpopulation with unconstrained growth. This subpopulation could be identified on the basis of the father's education and household income. The subjects for the longitudinal study were enrolled from 25 hospitals and delivery facilities that accounted for 80% of the study area's births. The cross-sectional sample was recruited at 117 day-care centers used by more than 80% of the targeted subpopulation. Public relations efforts were mounted to promote the study in the community. The large number of facilities involved in the longitudinal and cross-sectional components, the relatively large geographic area covered by the study, and the difficulties of working in a densely populated urban area presented special challenges. Conversely, the high rates of breastfeeding and general support for this practice greatly facilitated the implementation of the MGRS protocol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Ghana, Legon.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lartey
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Owusu
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sagoe-Moses
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sagoe-Moses
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003628:Database Management Systems / Q000592:standards; D005869:Ghana; D048788:Growth and Development; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D012015:Reference Standards; D014944:World Health Organization