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 AssessmentIntroduction
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
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