Anthropometric Makers in Nutritional Status Assessment of Children, Pregnant Women and the Elderly

Hajara MB, Mahmud MS and Yusuf MK

Published on: 2025-08-11

Abstract

Aim: The aims of this study were to assess the nutritional status of children, pregnant women and elderly people using anthropometric measurement and the diet that contribute to good and healthy body growth.

Methods: This study was conducted by means of cross sectional and also prospective method (questionnaire.) a number of 266 respondents were selected using leimschor formula for determination of sample size. All the anthropometric maker value are measured and recorded including their Body mass index are also recorded using this questionnaire. Nutritional status also summed and determined by weight-for-age-z score and height-age-z score.

Result: This study was done among 266 participant, 68 pregnant woman 99 children and 99 elderly people, and the prevalence of under nutrition based on BMI (< 5.5-84 percentile) in children and <18.5-24.9 in adult (Mid Upper Arm Circumference)  MUAC (<20.5 cm) was estimated to be 22% respectively. MUAC was significantly associated with BMI even after adjusting for potential confounders (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions: The prevalence of under nutrition based on BMI (< 5.5-84 percentile) in children and <18.5-24.9 in adult MUAC (<20.5 cm) was estimated to be 22% respectively. MUAC was significantly associated with BMI even after adjusting for potential confounders.

Keywords

Anthropometric; Makers; Nutritional and Assessment

Introduction

The most vulnerable population in the world are pregnant women, elderly people and children which malnutrition affect their anthropometric values via poor growth and development, mental retardation and poor health status. The basic block of the entire human life, health and development is termed as nutrition [1]. The stages of human development as it goes with age, adequate diets are important for getting a healthy life, growth and development as well as good learning capacity [2]. Though evidence suggested that bad feeding pattern affect growth and mental development [3].

Background of the Study

 Poor consumption of balanced diet could result in poor weight gain during pregnancy increasing the risk of premature delivery, low birth weight, and birth defects. To assess the nutritional status and dietary intake of pregnant women in rural areas of my study area, considering the recent increase in the demand for meat and its subsequent implications for health and food security,

The stages of human development as it goes with age, adequate diets are important for getting a healthy life, growth and development as well as good learning capacity [2]. Though evidence suggested that bad feeding pattern affect growth and mental development [3].

Problem Statement

It has been observed over some years, vulnerable population people like pregnant women, children and elderly people have variability in their anthropometric measurement due to lack of eating adequate diet compare to other group of people.

Aims and Objectives

The aims of this study were to assess the nutritional status of children, pregnant women and elderly people using anthropometric measurement and the diet that contribute to good and healthy body growth.

 Specific Objectives

  • To determine the differences between the anthropometric parameters of people with good food or nutritional intake among vulnerable population (elderly, children and pregnant women)
  • To assess the nutritional factor that influences the anthropometric measurement of the vulnerable population (elderly, children and pregnant women).

Hypothesis

We hypothesis that good dietary intake has influence in an individual body building even at the older age.

Also, good nutritional factors intake promotes health and growth of children, as well as contribute to good health status of pregnant women.

Materials

  • Weighing scale.
  • Tape.
  • Pencil and biro.

Study Design

This study is conducted by means of cross sectional and also prospective method (questionnaire.) a number of 266 respondents were selected using leimschor formula for determination of sample size. All the anthropometric maker value are measured and recorded including their Body mass index are also recorded using this questionnaire. Nutritional status also summed and determined by weight-for-age-z score and height-age-z score.

Work Flow

Materials

  • Weighing scale.
  • Tape.
  • Pencil and biro.

Study Design

This study was conducted by means of cross sectional and also prospective method (questionnaire.) a number of 266 respondents were selected using leimschor formula for determination of sample size. All the anthropometric maker value are measured and recorded including their Body mass index are also recorded using this questionnaire. Nutritional status also summed and determined by weight-for-age-z score and height-age-z score.

Work Flow

Transform the data in to excel

 Keyed the Data in SPSS Software Performed

  • Descriptive
  • Correlation and
  • Chi-square analysis

Print out the Results

This chapter shows the result of our findings, it present the basic information of the participant, and also shows the answer to our objectives. We use descriptive statistics to show the frequency and percentage of the participant according to their categories, correlation to show the relationship and chi-square analysis.

Table 1: Dietary Intake of the Participant.

Dietary

 

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

More Protein

100

37.6

37.6

37.6

Both

166

62.4

62.4

100.0

Total

266

100.0

100.0

 

Table 2: Feed Mode of the Study Participants.

Eating Mode

 

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Twice

67

25.2

25.2

25.2

Three times

166

62.4

62.4

87.6

Four above

33

12.4

12.4

100

Total

266

100

100

 

Table 3: Relationship between Dietary Intake, Eating Mode and Anthropometric Measurement.

Eating Mode

 

Frequency

Percent

Valid Percent

Cumulative Percent

Twice

67

25.2

25.2

25.2

Three times

166

62.4

62.4

87.6

Four above

33

12.4

12.4

100

Total

266

100

100

 

Discussion

Poor nutrition and low dietary intake is a growing concern in various low income and middle income countries. In this study, the total number of 68 pregnant women, 99 children and 99 elderly were recruited.

This study conforms to the high prevalence of under nutrition [4-7].

The finding of this research also suggested that there is significant relationship between nutritional status and other socio-demographic variables. An association analysis was carried out and indicated that good nutritional status dietary intake variables are associated with growth and wellbeing, except the participant’s gender that did not show any association. Therefore, it could be concluded that there is a significant association between nutritional status, socioeconomic variables health status and growth among the vulnerable group.

Furthermore, the anthropometric findings of this study such as the height, mean weight, and BMI of the pregnant women were similar to the findings of a study in rural Sri Lanka by Adhikari.

Conclusion

This study was done among 266 participant, 68 pregnant woman 99 children and 99 elderly people, and the prevalence of under nutrition based on BMI (< 5.5-84 percentile ) in children and <18.5-24.9 in adult  MUAC (<20.5 cm) was estimated to be 22% respectively. MUAC was significantly associated with BMI even after adjusting for potential confounders.

References