Community Nutrition

COMMUNITY NUTRITION 3 (1+2)

Lesson 2 : Assessment of Nutritional Status- Nutritional anthropometry

Objectives of Nutritional Assessment

1. To assess the severity and geographical distribution of malnutrition.
2. To identify individuals or population groups at risk of becoming malnourished.
3. To identify and analyze the ecological factors that are directly or indirectly responsible.
4. To suggest appropriate corrective measures or to develop suitable health care programmes.
5. To provide factual evidence for the incidence of malnutrition to concerned authorities or policy makers to make them realize the extent of the problem.
6. To determine the impact of nutritional programmes.

The nutritional Assessment of a community should aim at discovering facts and guiding actions intended to improve nutrition and health.