Targeting nutritional interventions: is there a role for growth monitoring?

2 cohorts of young children were followed to determine whether regular monitoring of weight is an effective means of detecting malnutrition. On cohort was from the urban slums of Dhaka Bangladesh and was followed from 1984-86; the second cohort was from the rural areas of Saint Lucia West Indies and was followed from 1977-79. In both studies children under 6 months were located by field workers -- children recruited were subsequently followed and weights measured monthly. Average weight of 99 and 104 children cohorts were measured monthly in Saint Lucia and Bangladesh. Eleven children were then dropped out of the study and excluded entirely. Weight was measured to nearest 100 gm with Salter and Detecto scales. Results show that after one year of age body weight showed a closer correlation with weight at 6 months than the weight changes in the previous 3 months. Also weight at 6 months was more closely related with a later weight than was birth weight or weight at the age of one month. This method is a more effective meter than using monthly growth monitoring or identifying low birth weight children. Such a method will target nutritional interventions of 67 month old infants in a lower portion of the weight distribution scale.