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Height screening at school: ineffective without high standards and adequate resources.
S Banerjee1, R J H Morgan, S A Rees
1Department of Child Health, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Llantrisant CF72 8XR, UK. sujoybanerjee@doctors.org.uk
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 27, 2003
Summary
Adherence to the Coventry Consensus for identifying childhood growth disorders was poor, with low measurement rates and referrals. Increased professional training and public awareness are needed for cost-effective screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Public health surveillance
- Growth monitoring
Background:
- The 1998 Coventry Consensus recommended screening for childhood growth disorders at school entry.
- It advised prompt referral for children with height below the 0.4th centile to identify treatable conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess adherence to the Coventry Consensus recommendations in a community setting.
- To evaluate the practicalities and cost implications of this screening program.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of anthropometric data from the National Child Health System (NCHS) for children born 1992-1993.
- Data collected during the 1998-1999 school year from the Rhondda and Taff Ely area.
Main Results:
- Only 67.6% of eligible children had height measured; NCHS could only flag heights below the 2nd centile.
- Referral rates were low, with incomplete data recording and poor attendance at follow-up clinics.
- An estimated annual cost of over $23,000 was associated with the program.
Conclusions:
- The study revealed poor coverage, compliance, and parental awareness regarding childhood short stature.
- Achieving near 100% coverage is essential for the success and cost-effectiveness of national screening programs.
- Enhanced professional training and public awareness campaigns are necessary for effective growth disorder identification.