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Practices in child growth monitoring in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region

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A. Abul-Fadl,1 K. Bagchi 2 and L. Cheikh Ismail2 

ممارسات رصد نموّ الأطفال في بلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط

عزة أبو الفضل، كونال باجشي، ليلى الشيخ إسماعيل

الخلاصـة: تُعد اللوحات المرجعية للنمو من أكثر الأدوات حساسيةً وقيمةً لتقييم صحة ونموّ الأطفال. وقد أجابت 16 وزارة من وزارات بلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط التي يبلغ عددها 21 بلداً على استبيان لمسح حول ما يستخدمونه من لوحات النمو للأطفال دون سن الخامسة. وتبيّن للباحثين أن معظم البلدان (13 من أصل 16) يستخدمون لوحات منظمة الصحة العالمية/NCHS، وأن اللوحات الخاصة بالوزن منسوباً إلى العمر هي الأشيَع استخداماً. أما اللوحات الخاصة بالطول منسوباً إلى العمر ومحيط الرأس منسوباً إلى العمر فأقل استخداماً. وتعرف الباحثون على المشكلات التي تعترض استخدام اللوحات. وتبين للباحثين أن إدخال معايير نمو الأطفال الجديدة لمنظمة الصحة العالمية التي ترتكز على الاقتصار على الأطفال الذين يتلقون الرضاعة الطبيعية من الثدي، هي فرصة فريدة لدعم رصد نمو الأطفال والممارسات المثلى لإطعامهم في بلدان إقليم شرق المتوسط.

ABSTRACT: Growth reference charts are among the most sensitive and valuable tools for assessing the health and development of children. A questionnaire survey was answered by 16 of the 21 ministries of health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region countries (EMR) about their use of growth charts for children under 5 years. Most of the countries (13/16) used the NCHS/WHO charts and weight-for-age was the most commonly used. Charts for height-for-age and head circumference-for-age were less commonly used. Problems in the use of charts were identified. The introduction of the new WHO Child Growth Standards, based on exclusively breastfed babies, is a unique opportunity to support growth monitoring and optimal feeding practices in EMR.

Pratiques en termes de suivi de la croissance des enfants dans les pays de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale

RÉSUMÉ: Les courbes de croissances de référence figurent parmi les outils les plus sensibles et les plus fiables pour évaluer la santé et le développement de l’enfant. Seize (16) des 21 ministères de la Santé de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale ont répondu à une étude par questionnaire concernant l’utilisation des courbes de croissance chez l’enfant de moins de cinq ans. La plupart des pays (13/16) ont recours aux courbes NCHS/OMS et le rapport poids/âge était le plus fréquemment utilisé. Les courbes pour les rapports taille/âge et circonférence du crâne/âge étaient moins couramment usitées. Quelques problèmes relatifs à l’utilisation des courbes ont été identifiés. L’introduction des nouvelles normes OMS de croissance de l’enfant, basées uniquement sur les bébés allaités exclusivement au lait maternel, est une occasion unique pour encourager le suivi de la croissance et des pratiques optimales en matière de nutrition dans les pays de la Région de la Méditerranée orientale.

1Department of Paediatrics, University of Benha, Faculty of Medicine, Benha, Egypt (Correspondence to A.Abul-Fadl: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
2Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt.
Received: 02/09/07; accepted: 13/11/07

EMHJ, 2010, 16(2):194-201

 

Introduction

The first 5 years of life are crucial for ensuring adequate nutrition, growth and development of the child. Child growth monitoring allows mothers and parents to be well-informed and empowered with a simple tool for monitoring the growth and development of their children. It also allows health workers, through a cost-effective tool, to assess and monitor the growth and nutritional status of children for supporting exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, timely adequate complementary feeding practices and continued breastfeeding for 2 years or more [1–3].

For the past 3 decades the growth reference charts of the National Center for Health Statistics/World Health Organization (NCHS/WHO) have been the internationally recommended charts for use by nutritional surveillance programmes [4]. Their cut-offs have been the standard reference for most of the national demographic surveys for assessing nutritional status of children and evaluating the effect of nutritional interventions as well as prioritizing country needs and identifying communities at risk of malnutrition [5]. However, their use as a reference for growth monitoring has been shown to be unsuitable for breastfed babies [6–9]. Recently WHO has developed new growth charts that reflect the growth of exclusively breastfed infants and are representative of an international sample of children from different regions of the world [10,11]. Evaluation studies conducted for the application of the new WHO Child Growth Standards (WHO-CGS) in clinical practice has shown them to be clinically sound [12]. Children monitored by the WHO-CGS were judged to be less stunted and less overweight than those assessed using the Centers for Disease Control 2000 (CDC2000) growth charts. Hence the WHO-CGS will assist in reducing the unnecessary referral of underweight and stunted children, while they should improve the detection of overweight and obese children [13].

Based on the above, the nutrition team in the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO) carried out a survey to assess the current use of growth charts in the countries of EMR and to understand what additional measures need to be taken into account for effective utilization of the new WHO-CGS.

Methods

The study was carried out in countries of the EMR by the nutrition section of EMRO in 2005–06. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey developed by EMRO. The questions were revised, pretested and finalized by the EMRO team in the nutrition department. The 17-question format was short to ensure clarity and validity
of collected information. Only one language (English) was used to ensure reliability. The questions assessed which growth charts were in use and how they were used for growth monitoring as well the problems facing health staff in the use of the growth charts for growth monitoring.

The questionnaires were distributed through the WHO Representative
Offices in each country to the counterparts in the ministry of health (MOH) of each country with a covering letter about the purpose of the survey and how to compile the data together with reference material about the development of the new international WHO-CGS. Representative Offices were urged to attach all the relevant information and documents used for growth monitoring by their country’s MOH and its partner health organizations. Non-respondents were followed up by personal contact by phone and electronic mail. A consultant specialized in growth monitoring in children was recruited to administer the questionnaire survey in the country, conduct selected country visits to ascertain facts and accuracy of the information on growth monitoring available at EMRO, conduct direct interviews with growth monitoring specialists in selected countries and obtain additional information as required.

The questionnaires were compiled by the officials who were responsible for the growth monitoring programme in the MOH of each country, supported by relevant documents, including the growth charts used and the training materials and training activities being carried out. Other responses came from the officials of counterparts working with the MOH services such as universities or teaching institutions or private nongovernmental organizations that have widespread country health delivery services, as in the case of Lebanon. All data were supported by verification documents.

In-depth country case studies were conducted in Yemen, Egypt and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya using the same formats. The investigator visited several governorates (regions) in each country: in Yemen, Sana’a city in the north, Ibb in the south-east and Taiz in the south; in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Tripoli in the north, Benghazi in the north-east and Gharyan and Sebha in the south; in Egypt, Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta in the north and Assiut in the south. In each area officials in the health directorate, hospitals and health centres were interviewed using the WHO questionnaire format as a basis for in-depth interviews.

The survey extended from the spring of 2005 to September 2005. The country in-depth study was conducted over a period of 12 weeks.

Statistical analysis

The data were compiled by computer and analysed using a Microsoft Excel 2000 database. The in-depth and person-to-person interviews in each of the 3 countries were compiled by qualitative methods (transcription, coding, sorting and interpretation). The data were presented as frequency distributions for descriptive purposes using tables and charts.

Results

Out of the 21 countries targeted in the Region, 16 responded. In each country more than 1 official from the maternal and child health or nutrition departments in the MOH responded (Table 1). The 5 countries that did not respond were: Djibouti, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Tunisia.

 Table 1 Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region that participated in the survey and officials who responded from these countries

The types of growth reference charts in use for child growth monitoring varied from one country to another and even within the same country from one health organization to another. The most commonly used growth reference chart was the NCHS/WHO child reference growth standards, used in 13 of the 16 responding countries (81.3%) (Table 2). The MOH in 3 countries reported using other growth charts: Saudi Arabia used their own locally developed charts, while Lebanon used the British charts developed in 1995 by the Child Growth Foundation in London and Qatar was using the CDC2000 growth charts. Libya and Egypt used their local growth charts in university hospitals but the Egyptian MOH used the NCHS/WHO charts for nutrition surveillance.

 Table 2 Indices measured, source of growth reference chart(s) and how charts were used in 16 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Weight-for-age growth charts were used for growth monitoring by the MOH in all the responding countries. Nine of the 16 countries (56.3%) used weight-for-age growth charts for males and females separately, while 7 countries (43.8%) used combined growth charts for males and females (Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) (Table 2). The height-for-age and head circumference-for-age for males and females separately were used in 9 countries (56.3%). Weight-for-height standards for growth were used by only 3 countries (18.8%) (Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar). Mid-arm circumference was used in 2 countries (12.5%) (Pakistan and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya). Reference charts for body mass index (BMI) were used by 1 country (Lebanon), and also by some Libyan and Egyptian universities based on locally developed standards.

The classification system in use was reported to be based on the percentile system in 13 countries (81.3%), except in Qatar, Oman and Pakistan, which reported the use of the z-score or standard deviation value system rather than percentiles. The Sudanese MOH mentioned that it used the percentage from the median in its child health services. The reasons for using the cut-off points was reported by all MOH officials to be based on recommendations based on the international agency and/or technical advisor (Table 3).

Table 3 Summary of responses from ministry of health (MOH), university and private health facilities about classification system used for cut-offs for growth reference charts, reasons for choice of cut-off and expected problems if height measurements were introduced

The common problems or constraints encountered in child growth monitoring programmes were categorized into informational, tangible and  attitudinal. The informational constraints included lack of adequate training of personnel (reported by the MOH in 6 countries, 37.5%), followed by poor understanding of the risk of overweight (5 countries, 31.3%) and inaccurate plotting of growth data (5 countries, 31.3%) (Figure 1). Also, difficulties with understanding and interpretation of growth reference curves were frequently reported (4 countries, 25.0%). Tangible constraints included poor condition of weighing scales: lack of maintenance, standardization and timely replacements (4 countries, 25.0%). Attitudinal constraints were less common, but still a problem and included poor understanding by health care workers of the risk of underweight and the importance of identifying and referring these children (3 countries 18.8%).

Figure 1 Number of countries who reported problems related to current use of growth reference charts in 16 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Figure 1 Number of countries who reported problems related to current use of growth reference charts in 16 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 

The measurement of height and use of weight-for-height charts was agreed to be an important measurement needed to be added to growth assessment by all except 1 of the respondents. Some countries were already doing this but not reporting it, as in the Gulf countries and in Egypt. Problems that might be faced if height measurement was introduced were: lack of trained personnel (reported by the MOH in 8 countries), lack of equipment (8 countries) and lack of time during the growth monitoring session (6 countries) (Table 3).

Feedback

Almost all respondents gave suggestions for improving the usefulness of child growth charts for monitoring. The following recommendations were mentioned.

Yemen officials suggested the use of coloured sections for the percentiles in the growth charts to make it easy for illiterate mother to monitor their child’s growth and recognize the danger zones. They also suggested integrating the child growth chart with the immunization card of each child.

Lebanese officials suggested printing the charts for health staff including weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height reference charts with built-in tables for numerical data and dates so that the health worker could record all growth data on 1 chart.

Yemeni and Libyan officials suggested spacing out columns for the first 3 months of life to facilitate monitoring over short periods of time.

Jordanian officials suggested the inclusion of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as outlined by UNICEF/WHO [14] within the child’s card.

In line with the Child Rights Convention (article 34), Yemeni and Sudanese officials suggested lobbying for growth charts to be issued with the birth certificate as the right of every child to health and adequate nutrition.

Egyptian and Libyan officials suggested integrating information about developmental changes in children and feeding recommendations along the growth chart; also to alert mothers to the use of a family planning method. Finally they suggested that the growth chart could be integrated prenatally into the maternal and fetal assessment card to inform pregnant women about the benefits and implementation of growth monitoring.

Discussion 

he survey clearly showed that the MOH in the majority of countries in the EMR used the NCHS/WHO growth chart as recommended by experts. The use of combined charts is more convenient for less affluent countries as it minimizes the cost of printing and distribution [3,15].

A similar study was conducted by de Onis et al. on the practices of child growth monitoring in 202 countries [16]. The response rate (88%) was slightly higher than our response rate (76%) probably due to the high percentage of countries in conflict and disaster situations in our Region. Their study showed similar findings. All countries in other regions used weight-for-age, but only half used it alone. Their study showed that the use of more than 1 type of growth standard was linked to affluence because more European than Asian countries used more than 1 type of growth chart. Such findings indicate that the universal problem for use of more than 1 type of growth chart is budgetary considerations and cost. Hence it is important to consider this when printing growth charts so that 1 unified chart includes all 4 essential measurements: weight-for-age, height-for-age, head circumference-for-age and weight-for-height.

Many of the EMR countries in our study preferred to use percentile curves rather than z-scores. De Onis et al. reported this to be common in their studies in other regions of the world; only one-fifth of countries used z-scores [16]. This could arise as a problem in nutritional surveillance when comparing one country with another, and should be taken into consideration when unifying global child growth charts.

In April 2006 WHO released the WHO-CGS, the new standards for assessing the growth and development of children from birth to 5 years of age [17], which was developed from the WHO multicentre growth reference study conducted between 1997 and 2003 in Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the United States of America[14]. The WHO-CGS are based on the children of mothers of favourable socioeconomic status and who were exclusively, or predominantly, breastfed for at least 4 months and had complementary foods introduced from 6 months with continued breastfeeding for 2 years or more. Full term, low-birth-weight infants were not excluded. Breastfed babies have higher growth rates in the first 3 months of life than children fed formula milk, as shown in various studies [2,3,5,18–21]. Hence findings from the study of the differences between the previous CDC2000 growth charts and the newly developed WHO-CGS are mainly reflected in lower rates of undernutrition and higher rates of overnutrition and obesity in the first 6 months [17].

The high infant mortality rate in EMR countries is closely linked with high rates of wasting. EMR countries with a high prevalence of wasting (over 10%) are those with a median infant mortality rate of 72 per 1000 compared with a median of 22.5 per a 1000 for countries with wasting prevalence below 10%. Infant feeding practices and malnutrition are closely linked in EMR countries. The median rate of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is 27% and of continued breastfeeding at 20–23 months is 23%. Timely complementary feeding between 6 and 9 months of age is lowest in Somalia (13%) and highest in Oman (92%), with a median of 51%. The lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding were shown to be associated in most countries with high prevalence of wasting (> 10%) [22–34].

With the use of the new WHO-CGS for monitoring growth and nutritional status we expect to detect more cases of undernutrition in the first 6 months, reflecting the steep fall in exclusive breastfeeding practices. When corrected early, this can prevent the higher rates of undernutrition reported in our surveillance systems in the latter half of the first year.

Although the EMR has many problems related to nutritional disorders, the use of nutritional indices as a national scale for detecting undernutrition or overnutrition is not common in the Region. Countries that use weight-for-height as an indicator for wasting in their national system were Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar, only 18.8% of the surveyed countries. Thus the new WHO-CGS will be expected to reinforce the early detection of malnutrition by the use of weight-for-height. Although lack of training and necessary equipment were mentioned as the main obstacles to its adoption by countries, the WHO-CGS can be easily integrated through other child health programmes that support exclusive breastfeeding as the main standard for optimal infant growth, including the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and other maternal and child health and nutrition programmes [17–21,35].

The mid-arm circumference growth chart was used only in the Pakistani health care system. In other countries it is used by university hospitals for research purposes. BMI growth charts were rarely reported to be used by countries for the assessment of overweight or obesity at the primary health care level. The new WHO-CGS includes BMI-for-age growth charts that are dramatically different from the previous CDC2000 charts. Estimates of overweight and obesity will increase substantially when the BMI-for-age standard is introduced in the EMR. Already childhood obesity is reported as a problem in countries such as Kuwait and Libyan Arab Jamahiriya [36–39]. We expect this problem will further magnify in these countries and appear in other countries where it was not previously recognized.

The problems facing growth monitoring programmes in the EMR were categorized into attitudinal, information and tangible. Attitudinal problems were related to poor understanding of the risk of overweight and underweight. The former is serious, as health staff and mothers do not perceive overweight in children as a problem; on the contrary they perceive it as an indication of good health. Hence intensive awareness campaigns need to be initiated in response to this. Poor feeding practices such as formula milk and feeding weaning foods in a bottle are one of the main causes for obesity at this age. Hence vigorous action should be taken to promote awareness of the hazards of formula feeding in bottles and especially after 6 months of age and during the second year, when family foods should be mandated. Available estimates for the period between the 1980s and 1990s show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children increased 2–5-fold between the 1980s and 1990s in developed countries (e.g. from 11% to over 30% in boys in Canada), and almost 4-fold in developing countries. Appraisal of 158 articles from 147 programmes showed that the preschool years may be a critical period for obesity prevention, as indicated by the association of adiposity rebound and obesity in later years [40].

The use of technology can influence changes at the practice level, such as incorporating the BMI-for-age index into office systems, and electronic medical records may be needed to support paediatric primary care providers in using BMI routinely. Educational interventions that address individual providers’ concerns about screening recommendations and treatment effectiveness may be necessary [41,42].

Other problems reported in our study and others [43] were informational owing to lack of knowledge and skills in the use and interpretation of growth charts. Researchers in Egypt reported a considerable improvement in the use of growth charts and reporting systems after training staff in primary health care on the skills of growth monitoring [44,45]. Incorporation of growth monitoring into training courses in child health and development, especially on the subject of breastfeeding and complementary feeding, has been shown to increase the effectiveness of these training programmes [46]. Recently WHO has developed training modules for health workers in child growth assessment that are tailored to the needs expressed by health workers during surveys to assess the use and implementation of child growth charts [47].

In conclusion, promotion of child growth monitoring should be able to reinforce the Global Strategy of Infant and Young Child Feeding and the Millennium Development Goals for preventing malnutrition and reducing infant mortality rates [38]. This can be achieved through promoting optimal infant feeding practices by the support of early exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life and timely, adequate complementary feeding from 6 months onwards, with continued breastfeeding for 2 years or more through the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and maternal and child health programmes. However it will require intensive efforts by the countries of the EMR to adopt and institutionalize the newly developed global WHO-CGS.

Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to the efforts and facilitations offered by their Excellencies the Ministers of Health, General Directorates of Maternal and Child Health, and the Nutrition Department in the MOH of all the 16 countries surveyed, particularly in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Yemen and Egypt. Our gratitude also goes to to the university staff visited in each of the shabiyat visited in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and in Yemen.

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