Dataset Information

Misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children 0-5 years of South Asian and Dutch descent: ethnic-specific v. WHO criteria.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Several authors have questioned the suitability of WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) for all ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to identify potential misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children of Surinamese Asian Indian, South Asian (Pakistan/India) and Dutch descent.

Design

A series of routine cross-sectional measurements, collected 2012-2015. South Asian-specific normative growth references for weight-for-age and weight-for-length/height were constructed using the LMS method based on historic growth data of Surinamese Asian Indians born between 1974 and 1976. WHO-CGS and ethnic-specific references were applied to calculate z-scores and prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting.

Setting

Youth HealthCare, providing periodical preventive health check-ups.

Participants

11 935 children aged 0-5 years.

Results

Considerable deviations from WHO-CGS were found, with higher-than-expected stunting rates, especially in the first 6 months of life. Surinamese Asian Indian children showed stunting rates up to 16·0 % and high underweight and wasting over the whole age range (up to 7·2 and 6·7 %, respectively). Dutch children consistently had mean WHO-CGS z-scores 0·3-0·5 sd above the WHO baseline (>6 months). The application of ethnic-specific references showed low rates for all studied indicators, although South Asian children were taller and larger than their Surinamese Asian Indian counterparts.

Conclusions

WHO-CGS misclassify a considerable proportion of children from all ethnic groups as stunted in the first 6 months of life. Underweight and wasting are considerably overestimated in Surinamese Asian Indian children. Ethnic-specific growth references are recommended for Surinamese Asian Indian and Dutch children. The considerable differences found between South Asian subpopulations requires further research.

SUBMITTER: de Wilde JA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7358702 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children 0-5 years of South Asian and Dutch descent: ethnic-specific <i>v</i>. WHO criteria.

de Wilde J A JA Peters-Koning M M Middelkoop Bjc B

Public health nutrition 20200601 12

<h4>Objective</h4>Several authors have questioned the suitability of WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) for all ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to identify potential misclassification of stunting, underweight and wasting in children of Surinamese Asian Indian, South Asian (Pakistan/India) and Dutch descent.<h4>Design</h4>A series of routine cross-sectional measurements, collected 2012-2015. South Asian-specific normative growth references for weight-for-age and weight-for-length/heigh ...[more]

PMID: 32476641

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