The functional significance of malnutrition--growth and prospective risk of death in the highlands of Papua New Guinea
1982
Heywood, Peter
Data presented from a cross-sectional anthropometric survey of children below the age of 5 are based upon 18-month findings of a 2-year study on the effects of nutritional status on mortality. The indicators studied included height, weight, and weight-for-height (W/H). Indicators for weight demonstrate a slow but steady increase in the risk of mortalilty as weight-for age (W/A) decreases to 60% of standard with a marked increase in the risk of dying during the ensuing 18 months. Risk of dying increases quickly as the height for age (H/A) and W/A falls to 90% below standard. After a fall below 80%, the risk increases sharply. As the study continues, it is hoped that one of the 3 indicators (W/A, W/H, H/A) will be pinpointed as the most sensitive risk indicator. One observation has been that mortality increases for W/H when there is an earlier departure from the standard, which might appear to be true for W/A as well. Growth standard must be evaluated for each population surveyed (e.g., highland) as there maybe differentiation from one popoulation to another. (kbc)
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