The predictive and retrospective values of weight and height measurements of below fives.

A longitudinal growth study among infants and preschool children took place near Nairobi Kenya between June 1974 and January 1977. The children were weighed and measured by trained fieldworkers at regular intervals. Analysis showed a certain amount of growth retardation. Diarrheal disease and intestinal parasites are common. 568 children were studied. The age at death varied form 15 to 59 months. The diagnoses were: measles pneumonia swollen body and fever. The children seen during the original survey were classified as well nourished or malnourished at ages 0-5 and again during the revisit using the same standards. The weight-for-age (W/A) and height-for age (H/A) distribution of children at the time of the revisit was not statistically dependent on the distribution during the survey except for the 0-year-old children. 52% were well nourished at the age of 0 years. H/A is good at preschool age and will probably also be normal at a later age. W/A is the best predictor of subnormal nutritional status in early childhood. If a child is well nourished according to H/A W/A and W/H there is a good chance that the child was always in a good nutritional state.