Comparative Prevalence of Low Levels of Nutritional Indicators Using NCHS And Who Reference/Standards

Nutritional status of pre-school children (0-5 year age group) is of paramount importance because the foundation for lifetime health, strength and intellectual vitality is laid during this period. This study was aimed at assessing the nutritional status of children below five years of age, in nine towns distributed within the three senatorial zones of Anambra State. Anthropometric data were collected between 2nd to 30th June, 2012. A total of 1662 children were included in the study. Every child was subjected to anthropometric measurements using standard technique. Data analysis was done using WHO ANTHRO software (Version 3.2.2) and was based on NCHS 2000 and WHO (2006) reference/ standard. Recommended indicators and cutoffs (<-2SD) were used to classify malnutrition. Total population prevalence for stunting, wasting and underweight were 4.3%, 7.98% and 2% by NCHS criterion and 5.2%, 8.8% and 1.5% by WHO Standards. In all the areas studied, more children were classified as stunted and wasted by the WHO criteria when compared with the NCHS reference. On the other hand, a lower proportion of children were classified as underweight by WHO standard when compared with NCHS reference. The result of this work suggests that the WHO 2006 standard seems to be a better predictor of nutritional status among under-five year old children.