Change in quality of malnutrition surveys between 1986 and 2015.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Representative surveys collecting weight, height and MUAC are used to estimate the prevalence of acute malnutrition. The results are then used to assess the scale of malnutrition in a population and type of nutritional intervention required. There have been changes in methodology over recent decades; the objective of this study was to determine if these have resulted in higher quality surveys.

Methods

In order to examine the change in reliability of such surveys we have analysed the statistical distributions of the derived anthropometric parameters from 1843 surveys conducted by 19 agencies between 1986 and 2015.

Results

With the introduction of standardised guidelines and software by 2003 and their more general application from 2007 the mean standard devia

SUBMITTER: Grellety E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5972441 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature