Journal Article

Neonatal anthropometric indicators of infant growth and mortality in Burkina Faso

Ouédraogo, Thierry, Compaoré, Guillaume, Sié, Ali, Lietman, Thomas M, O’Brien, Kieran Sunanda, Zakane, Alphonse, Oldenburg, Catherine E, Bountogo, Mamadou, Lebas, Elodie

2024

Overview

Most evidence supporting screening for undernutrition is for children aged 6-59 months. However, the highest risk of mortality and highest incidence of wasting occurs in the first 6 months of life. We evaluated relationships between neonatal anthropometric indicators, including birth weight, weight-for-age -score (WAZ), weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ), length-for-age -score (LAZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and mortality and growth at 6 months of age among infants in Burkina Faso. Data arose from a randomised controlled trial evaluating neonatal azithromycin administration for the prevention of child mortality. We evaluated relationships between baseline anthropometric measures and mortality, wasting (WLZ < -2), stunting (LAZ < -2) and underweight (WAZ < -2) at 6 months of age were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for the child's age and sex. Five regions of Burkina Faso. Infants aged 8-27 d followed until 6 months of age. Of 21 832 infants enrolled in the trial, 7·9 % were low birth weight (<2500 g), 13·3 % were wasted, 7·7 % were stunted and 7·4 % were underweight at enrolment. All anthropometric deficits were associated with mortality by 6 months of age, with WAZ the strongest predictor (WAZ < -2 to ≥ -3 at enrolment . WAZ ≥ -2: adjusted OR, 3·91, 95 % CI, 2·21, 6·56). Low WAZ was also associated with wasting, stunting, and underweight at 6 months. Interventions for identifying infants at highest risk of mortality and growth failure should consider WAZ as part of their screening protocol.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Age / Anthropometry / Antibiotics / Arm circumference / Azithromycin / Azithromycin - administration & dosage / Azithromycin - therapeutic use / Babies / Birth Weight / Body Height / Body Weight / Breastfeeding & lactation / Burkina Faso - epidemiology / Child Development / Female / Food security / Growth Disorders - epidemiology / Growth Disorders - mortality / Humans / Indicators / Infant / Infant Mortality / Infant, Low Birth Weight / Infant, Newborn / Infants / Logistic Models / Low birth weight / Male / Malnutrition / Monitoring and Surveillance / Mortality / Mortality risk / Neonates / Newborn babies / Regression analysis / Regression models / Research Paper / Screening / Standard scores / Thinness - epidemiology / Thinness - mortality / Undernutrition / Underweight / Wasting Syndrome - epidemiology / Wasting Syndrome - mortality