A Novel Low-Cost Tool for a More Efficient and Reliable Weight-for-Height/Length Assessment (Yared's-tool)

Weight-for-height/length z-score is one of the indicators used to diagnose acute malnutrition. In the existing method, the assessment involves three steps and takes significant time with a wider room for errors. A new tool is developed to address these drawbacks. A preliminary testing done show encouraging results, but a more robust study is needed. This research will b done with the objective of comparing diagnostic efficiency and reliability of the 'new' method against the 'existing' one using a diagnostic randomized clinical trial method.

Acute malnutrition is a major underlying and direct cause of child death. Weight-for-height/length z score (WHZ) is one of the indicators used to assess nutritional status of children. In the existing method, the assessment involves three steps; measuring height, measuring weight and deciding WHZ using a reference graphs or tables. The assessment takes significant time and has wider room for errors. Due to these drawbacks, it is not used at community level where regular active finding takes place. A new tool is developed to address these drawbacks. It reduces the steps to two aiming at reducing errors and saving time and energy. This study will compare efficiency and reliability of WHZ assessments done with the new tool against the existing method using a diagnostic randomized clinical trial. Trained health workers will do WHZ assessments in under five children mobilized for nutrition screening program. The 'average time' needed and proportions of 'classification errors' will be compared between the new and the existing methods. Assessments done by two anthropometry experts will be used as gold standard. The study will determine the gains of the new tool and can potentially change the global practice and help early detection of huge number of wasted children that are being missed.

Children will be assigned for nutrition status assessment to either of the two groups that use the 'new' or the 'existing' assessment method

The caregivers of the children, the care provider linking the children to either of the groups and the investigator will not know which group each child is joining and which group is using which method.

Proportion of 'assessment errors' between the groups will be compared against that of the gold standard (i.e the assessment done by two experts for each child'

The average time needed to complete WHZ assessments using the 'new' method will be compared with that of the 'existing' method

Proportion of 'assessment errors' by health-extension workers will be compared with that of the 'nurses' and the 'experts'

Inclusion Criteria: All children under five years of age living in the study area. Exclusion Criteria: Children for whom weigh-for-height assessments can not be done due to physical deformities and disabilities.

Nutrition assessment data is sensitive for the country and it can only be shared if the regional health bureau allows. It needs time to get their decision

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