Weight-for-age and mid-upper arm circumference versus weight-for-length as severe acute malnutrition indicators: A validation study in under-6-month infants.

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Infants are more susceptible to malnutrition than older children. The prevalence of severe wasting among Indian infants under-6 months of age is 14.8% according to the National Family Health Survey-4. The myth of complete protection by exclusive breastfeeding is debated when the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) sprang up as high as 23.8% in a cross sectional study from Central India among 600 infants. Area under the curve for MUAC <11 cm was 0.936 (95% confidence interval); its sensitivity and specificity were 69.23% and 73.09%, respectively; area under the curve for weight-for-age had higher sensitivity at (88.81%), but lower specificity (61.1%). The highlighted modifiable risk factors were low birth weight and adverse feeding practices. Combined MUAC and weight-for-length screening strategies should be used specifically in low-resource, community-based contexts for SAM in infants aged under six months.