Practices in child growth monitoring in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Growth reference charts are among the most sensitive and valuable tools for assessing the health and development of children. A questionnaire survey was answered by 16 of the 21 ministries of health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries (EMR) about their use of growth charts for children under 5 years. Most of the countries (13/16) used the NCHS/WHO charts and weight-for-age was the most commonly used. Charts for height-for-age and head circumference-for-age were less commonly used. Problems in the use of charts were identified. The introduction of the new WHO Child Growth Standards, based on exclusively breastfed babies, is a unique opportunity to support growth monitoring and optimal feeding practices in EMR.
Abul-Fadl
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Department of Paediatrics, University of Benha, Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt. azfadl@yahoo.com
Bagchi
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Cheikh Ismail
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D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001132:Arm / Q000254:growth & development; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057238:Growth Charts; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008877:Middle East; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013397:Sudan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014944:World Health Organization