Presentation of growth data

COMMUNITY NUTRITION 3 (1+2)
Lesson 3 : Analysis and Interpretation of Anthropometric data

Presentation of growth data

Standards of growth employ

  1. Percentiles division: Refers to the value of measurement of that particular number in a series of hundred, when they are arranged in an ascending order.
    50th percentile – (Median) referes to the 50th value in a series of 100.
    3rd percentile indicates that 3% of children are below the value and 97% above that value.
    Common percentiles are – 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95 & 97th.

  2. Standard deviation (SD)
    The relationship of percentiles to S.D in a normally distributed characteristic is shown in figure below.
    3rd & 97th percentile include 94% of the population and coincide with values + or – S.D from the mean.
    Conventionally -2 S.D units are taken as cut offs to determine retardation in growth.
  • S.D classification
    Standard deviation (S.D) classification is shown in table below.

SD Classification

Weight for age

Height for age

Weight for height

≥ Median- 2SD

Normal

Normal

Normal

Median- 2SD to ≥Median- 3SD

Moderate under nutrition

Moderate stunting

Moderate wasting

< Median- 3SD

Severe under nutrition

Severe stunting

Severe wasting


  • Percentage deviation from the median of standard
    To classify children into Nutrition grades or grades of deficit (mild, moderate, severe) – by establishing arbitrary cut-off points.
    Ex: Gomez Classification

  • Velocity of growth
    Velocity is the rate of growth per unit time, usually one year and is referred to as annual increment.
    It is the difference in the measurements obtained at initial point of time (T1) and at the end of one year (T2), in a longitudinal study.
    Distance Charts: are prepared using data collected in cross sectional studies.
    Children belonging to different ages are measured at one point of time. Means for different ages are plotted on graphs and are joined by a smoothened curve.
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Last modified: Tuesday, 29 November 2011, 11:24 AM