Proposal of a new table of weight increase for undernourished children under the age of 6

Abstract

All children (n = 447) under 6 years of age attending an outpatient facility during 1988 were evaluated for weight increase according to the current table. Recovery of undernutrition was estimated at a mean of 45%. A new table, based on the fact that undernourished children have a greater potential for weight increase was developed and applied prospectively during 1989 (n = 307). Recovery from undernutrition was 60%, especially high in preschool children who improved from 35% en 1988 to 56% in 1989 (n < or = 0.01). This was attributed to an individualized educational program as an additional measure to the National complementary feeding program. Better controls for children who failed to attend may help improve recovery from undernutrition which is relatively stagnant since 1982.