Question

You have asked to participate in a research study on infant nutrition. As this is a new area of focus for you, you need to refresh your memory on infant nutrition.

            a. Describe three anthropometric measurements routinely taken on infants.

b. What is the relative value of these anthropometric measurements? How are the values to be interpreted

Answer 1

a) Anthropometric measurements mean measurements of a human body. In case of infants the three measurements routinely taken on infants are:

• Head Circumference: A centimeter measuring tape is applied around the head (also called occipital frontal circumference).
• Height: A centimeter measuring tape is applied to the top of the crown and drawn till the infant's heel.
• Mid-Upper Arm Circumference: Measured at mid point of upper arm of the left side. with a centimeter tape.

b) Head Circumference: This is closely related to brain size and is used to detect chronic protein-energy manutrition in children. Normal HC of a newborn is 30-35 cm. Its growth charts are used to study values and abnormal HC values may also indicate macrocephalic or microcephalic head caused due to various conditions.
Height: It is very sensitive along with weight and is used to determine rate of growth and development. It is measured with the child standing up. For younger children length is measured. Height-for-age, Weight-for-height and BMI are calculated and compared with WHO percentile charts (18-20 inches for newy born). Any substantial deviation from the given values indicates stunting/wasting as a result of chronic malnutrition.
Mid-Upper Arm Circumference: A decrease in this may reflect either a reduction in muscle mass, subcutaneous tissue or both. It is usually constant in children aged 1-5 years and so, a cut-off value of 11.5 cm is used as an indicator of wasting.