Measurement of growth may also be used as an index of the general health and nutrition of a population or subpopulation of children.
Key points
➢Serial measurement (longitudinal data)
➢Training personnel ➢Be made accurately ➢To be recorded
Indicators of measurement
Weight Height (Length) Sitting height Head circumference Chest circumference
Length-measuring device
A guide for right-angle headboard
Measuring board for standing height (or nonstretchable tape)
Techniques
Recumbent length is measured for children younger than 36 months of age who cannot stand unassisted.
weight on the beam
The weight of the pad or diaper will be subtracted from the weight of the infant Be performed in the morning after toilet time and before the morning meal.
Tow people are required to measure an infant’s length.
One person stands at the head of the table and holds the infant’s head so the infant is looking vertically upward, with the crown of the head placed firmly against the headboard.
Key points: straighten the infant’s legs holds the feet with toe pointed directly up
over 3 years of age
Underclothes Stand with bare heels
Heels close together
Anthropometry
Growth increments, the difference between initial and follow-up measurements, reflect recent growth rate(growth velocity) and are sensitive indicators of health and development.
< 3 years of age
Key points: hold firmly against the headboard
The another person straighten the infant’s legs, holds the feet with toe pointed directly up, move the footboard firmly against the feet, then reads the measurement indicated by the position of the footboard(the nearest 0.1cm).
Legs straight
Arms at the sides Shoulders relaxed
(the nearest 0.1cm)
SEGMENTAL MEASUREMENTS
The trends revealed through serial anthropometric data can be used to track the growth of an individual child, detect growth abnormalities, monitor nutritional status, and evaluate the effect of nutritional intervention or the treatment of disease.
Age
<1 1～3 3～7
>7
Beam scale
Pan-type
Maximum (kg)
10～15
Accurate (kg)
0.01
Chair-type 20～30 0.05
Platform 50
0.1
Platform 100
ቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱ
0.1
Techniques
Calibrated balance beam scale : Checking and adjustment of the zero
Weight measurement
Instruments
Balance beam scale
upright scale
Pan-type pediatric scale
Chair -type pediatric scale Platform beam scale
The choice of Balance beam scales
Notes the circumstance of measurement
Height measurement
Instruments
movable footboard
fixed headboard
table surface
a fixed measuring tape marked in millimeters with its zero end at the edge of the headboard