Resumen

ESQUIVEL LAUZURIQUE, Mercedes  y  GONZALEZ FERNANDEZ, Ciro. Physical development and nutritional status of preschool-age children in Havana according to the new WHO Growth References. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2009, vol.35, n.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

Objectives To assess the physical development and nutritional status of preschool-age children living in Havana through the comparison with the new World Health Organization's Growth Reference. Methods The z scores of weight/age, height/age, weight/height, and body mass index/age of 1 322 children aged 0-4 years were estimated in the Havana's 2005 Growth and Development Study. Means and standard deviations of the z scores and the rates of prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight were calculated.. These last results were compared with those that would have been obtained with the use of the prior WHO Growth References and with the Cuban domestic standards. Results Mean values of z scores were positive in the range from 0.33 to 0.51, except for the height/age that reached a negative value of -0,07. In the case of weight indicators, the z scores increased their values up to two years of age and then they declined, whereas height/age began with negative values and, after the age of 2 years, it showed close to zero or positive values. The prevalence rates of underweight, stunting and wasting were 1.3 %, 3.7 %, 1.0 % and 1.0 % respectively. The percentage of overweight among children was 11.2 % with body mass index/age and 10.7 % with weight/height. Significant variations in the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition were detected with the use of growth reference standards. Conclusions The results of the assessment of growth and nutritional status of children depend fundamentally on the type of references used; the differences found are relevant and also their implications on the policies and strategies to be developed for the care of this population.

Palabras clave : Anthropometry; growth references; growth monitoring; weight; height.

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