Worldwide implementation of the WHO Child Growth Standards.
Public Health Nutr
; 15(9): 1603-10, 2012 Sep.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22717390
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the worldwide implementation of the WHO Child Growth Standards ('WHO standards').DESIGN:
A questionnaire on the adoption of the WHO standards was sent to health authorities. The questions concerned anthropometric indicators adopted, newly introduced indicators, age range, use of sex-specific charts, previously used references, classification system, activities undertaken to roll out the standards and reasons for non-adoption.SETTING:
Worldwide.SUBJECTS:
Two hundred and nineteen countries and territories.RESULTS:
By April 2011, 125 countries had adopted the WHO standards, another twenty-five were considering their adoption and thirty had not adopted them. Preference for local references was the main reason for non-adoption. Weight-for-age was adopted almost universally, followed by length/height-for-age (104 countries) and weight-for-length/height (eighty-eight countries). Several countries (thirty-six) reported newly introducing BMI-for-age. Most countries opted for sex-specific charts and the Z-score classification. Many redesigned their child health records and updated recommendations on infant feeding, immunization and other health messages. About two-thirds reported incorporating the standards into pre-service training. Other activities ranged from incorporating the standards into computerized information systems, to providing supplies of anthropometric equipment and mobilizing resources for the standards' roll-out.CONCLUSIONS:
Five years after their release, the WHO standards have been widely scrutinized and implemented. Countries have adopted and harmonized best practices in child growth assessment and established the breast-fed infant as the norm against which to assess compliance with children's right to achieve their full genetic growth potential.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Organização Mundial da Saúde
/
Desenvolvimento Infantil
/
Gráficos de Crescimento
Tipo de estudo:
Guideline
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Public Health Nutr
Assunto da revista:
CIENCIAS DA NUTRICAO
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Suíça