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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
A contrast between mothers' assessments of child malnutrition and physical anthropometry in rural Mexico: a mixed
Bernardo Turnbull1, Gloria Martínez-Andrade, Nazly Huérfano
1Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Nutricional, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México City, México.
Objective:
To compare mothers' assessments of nutritional status with anthropometric measures and gain further insights into mothers' reasons for their judgment.
Design:
Each mother was asked to assess the nutritional status of her child and 2 other children and to compare all 3. Rates for "hits" and "misses" between mothers' assessment and physical anthropometry were analyzed using the binomial test. The rationale for the mothers' assessments was explored through open-ended questions.
Setting:
A rural clinic in an indigenous area of Mexico.
Participants:
31 mothers of children 1-5 years of age.
Main Outcome Measures:
Physical anthropometry and mothers' assessments.
Results:
A significant proportion (P
Conclusions And Implications:
Mothers' assessments were better than mere guesses. Their understanding of children's nutritional status in particular and health in general should be used to design more effective and sustainable communication messages, properly combining mothers' and health providers' constructs. It is also important to find ways to make mothers recognize stunting as a nutrition-related problem.
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