Who Child Growth Standards

A comprehensive review of the uses and interpretation of anthropometric references undertaken by WHO in the early 1990s concluded that new growth curves were needed to replace the existing international reference. To develop new standards, a multi-country study was carried out to collect primary growth data and related information from 8440 healthy breastfed infants and young children from diverse ethnic backgrounds and cultural settings (Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman, and the USA). The first set of growth standards (length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age) was published in April 2006. This report presents the second set of growth standards (head circumference-for-age, arm circumference-for-age, triceps skinfold-for-age, and subscapular skinfold-for-age). The standards depict normal early childhood growth under optimal environmental conditions and can be used to assess children everywhere, regardless of ethnicity socioeconomic status and type of feeding. This report will be useful to pediatricians and other healthcare providers, nutritionists, policy makers, researchers, national institutes of health, schools of medicine, and professional associations. Companion volume: WHO Child Growth Standards: Length/Height-for-age Weight-for-age Weight-for-length Weight-for-height and Body Mass Index-for age. Methods and Development

Written to assist managers of child health programs, this publication explains the features and uses of a simple visual chart for monitoring childhood growth and detecting changes in nutritional and health status. The first part of the book introduces the basic principles and procedures for measuring changes in growth and knowing when these changes signal a deterioration in health. Highly practical information on the design and use of growth charts is presented. In order to ensure that growth charts are understood and properly used by community health workers, the book alerts program managers to specific problems of design, presentation, recording, or interpretation that should be considered when developing or adapting a chart for local use. Illustrations show a prototype chart and modified versions developed to meet special needs in India, Indonesia, Colombia, Thailand, and Brazil. The book also shows how such charts can be used for the education of mothers in appropriate feeding practices and the development of a medical history. The second part of the book offers guidelines for training health workers to use the chart. Information ranges from important points to stress when teaching weighing procedures to examples of cases where growth information might be misinterpreted. (RH)

"The WHO Child Growth Standards were constructed by the Coordinating Team in the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development of the World Health Organization."--P. iv.

There is no other time in life when the provision of adequate and balanced nutrition is of greater importance than during infancy and childhood. During this dynamic phase characterized by rapid growth, development and developmental plasticity, a sufficient amount and appropriate composition of nutrients both in health and disease are of key importance for growth, functional outcomes such as cognition and immune response, and the metabolic programming of long-term health and well-being. This compact reference text provides concise information to readers who seek quick guidance on practical issues in the nutrition of infants, children and adolescents. After the success of the first edition, which sold more than 50'000 copies in several languages, the editors prepared this thoroughly revised and updated second edition which focuses again on nutritional challenges in both affluent and poor populations around the world. Serving as a practical reference guide, this book will contribute to further improving the quality of feeding of healthy infants and children, as well as enhancing the standards of nutritional care in sick children.

The World Health Organization published new child growth standards for infants and children up to the age of 5 years in April 2006 (ISBN 9789241546935). These describe the growth of children living in a well supported health environment in six different countries. This report to the Department of Health advises on the applicability of the new standards for children aged 0-5 years in the UK. There are nine recommendations including: exclusive breastfeeding to the age of six months with continued breastfeeding as part of a progressively varied diet is recommended for all infants; the WHO pattern of slower weight gain between 4 to 24 months could potentially reduce the risk of later obesity; UK1990 growth references should be used over the age of 24 months; the WHO standards should be used from 2 weeks, to take account of the weight adjustments that occur in the first two weeks after birth; the feasibility of using WHO Growth Standards from 2-weeks of postnatal age to 24 months and existing UK1990 from 24 months onwards requires piloting and field-testing before being formally adopted and health professionals involved in child health are likely to require additional training and guidance on the use and interpretation of WHO Growth Standards and UK1990 references for monitoring growth in clinical practice; adoption and implementation of the charts should be preceded by a well-planned communications strategy ensuring that parents and carers receive clear and consistent advice.

The Pocket Book is for use by doctors nurses and other health workers who are responsible for the care of young children at the first level referral hospitals. This second edition is based on evidence from several WHO updated and published clinical guidelines. It is for use in both inpatient and outpatient care in small hospitals with basic laboratory facilities and essential medicines. In some settings these guidelines can be used in any facilities where sick children are admitted for inpatient care. The Pocket Book is one of a series of documents and tools that support the Integrated Managem.