Maximum Thigh Circumference in the Surveillance of Protein-energy Malnutrition among Young Children.
Abstract
Summary: The usefulness of maxiinum thigh circun ference (MTC) as a potential tool to identify malnutrition was assessed in 700 children aged 7 to 36 months. The coefficients of correlation between MTC and middle upper arm circumference (MUAC) and the weight were 0.92 and 0.90 respectively. Thie mean MTC values showed no statistically significant sex differences. Based on the weights and MTC values, the children were categorised into four groups: well-fed, undernutrition, kwashiorkor and marasmus. Values obtained for each group were statistically significant. Our findings show that any child aged 1 months or more, whose MTC is below 18.3cm, should be regarded as suffering from occult malnutrition.
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