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Overlooking undernutrition? Using a composite index of anthropometric failure to assess how underweight misses and misleads the assessment of undernutrition in young children

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  • Nandy, Shailen
  • Jaime Miranda, J.

Abstract

In light of current international interest in the Millennium Development Goals, this short report examines the suitability of one of the primary indicators being used to assess progress. Using anthropometric data on 46,784 children aged 0-35 months in seven developing countries, we show how the weight for age (underweight) indicator is problematic but not for the reasons conventionally cited. We show that the information it provides about the degree and direction of change in undernutrition over time sometimes contradicts that provided by other conventional indicators. We demonstrate the potential of an alternative indicator, the composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF), which can be used to show the overall extent of undernutrition among children, and which provides an unequivocal statement on the direction and degree of change in undernutrition over time. Given the fundamental importance of undernutrition to child survival and health, the issues raised will be of interest to and have implications for policy makers and planners alike.

Suggested Citation

  • Nandy, Shailen & Jaime Miranda, J., 2008. "Overlooking undernutrition? Using a composite index of anthropometric failure to assess how underweight misses and misleads the assessment of undernutrition in young children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(9), pages 1963-1966, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:66:y:2008:i:9:p:1963-1966
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Svedberg, Peter, 2000. "Poverty and Undernutrition: Theory, Measurement, and Policy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198292685.
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    1. Phillips Edomwonyi Obasohan & Stephen J. Walters & Richard M. Jacques & Khaled Khatab, 2024. "The Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Multimorbidity of Anaemia, Malaria, and Malnutrition among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Nigeria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Marco Pomati & Shailen Nandy, 2020. "Assessing Progress towards SDG2: Trends and Patterns of Multiple Malnutrition in Young Children under 5 in West and Central Africa," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1847-1873, October.
    3. Musiwa, Anthony Shuko, 2019. "Multidimensional child poverty in Zimbabwe: Extent, risk patterns and implications for policy, practice and research," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Nandy, Shailen & Daoud, Adel & Gordon, David, 2016. "Examining the changing profile of undernutrition in the context of food price rises and greater inequality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 153-163.
    5. J. R. Jith & Rajshree Bedamatta, 2021. "Child Undernutrition in the States of India: An Analysis Based on Change in Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure from 2006 to 2016," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 26(1), pages 104-126, June.
    6. Anthony Shuko Musiwa, 2020. "Extent and Depth of Child Poverty and Deprivation in Zimbabwe: a Multidimensional Deprivation Approach," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(3), pages 885-915, June.
    7. Phillips Edomwonyi Obasohan & Stephen J. Walters & Richard Jacques & Khaled Khatab, 2020. "Risk Factors Associated with Malnutrition among Children Under-Five Years in Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-23, November.
    8. David Gordon & Shailen Nandy, 2016. "The Extent, Nature and Distribution of Child Poverty in India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 10(1), pages 64-84, April.

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