1. Assessment of Nutritional status
Dr Paul T Francis, MD
Prof. Com Med
7th April University, Zawia, Libya

2. Contents Need for nutritional assessment Types of surveys
Elements of nutritional assessment
Clinical examination
Anthropometry
Lab and Biochemical tests
Dietary survey
Study of vital statistics
Assessment of ecological factors

3. Aim of nutritional assessment
To identify nutritional problems of the community
To find the underlying cause for malnutrition
To plan and implement(نجز) control of malnutrition
Maintain good nutrition of community

4. Types of surveys Longitudinal Cross-sectional
In longitudinal surveys some families are observed (راعى, لاحظْ) for one year or longer
In cross-sectional survey a sample is examined for prevalence of malnutrition

5. Elements of Nutritional Assessment
Clinical examination
Anthropometry
Laboratory and biochemical tests
Dietary surveys
Study of vital statistics
Assessment of ecological factors

6. Clinical examination
Person is examined for signs of malnutrition e.g.. Anemia, rickets.

7. Anthropometry Weight (for age) Height (Length in children <2years
Is the most important measure for assessing malnutrition
Height (Length in children <2years
Head circumference in 0-4 years
Mid-upper arm circumference
Skin fold thickness

8. Weight (for age)
Weight of the child can be plotted on a growth chart to monitor the growth of the child
The upper and lower limit of normal weight is shown by two lines – road to health
The weight of the child should be between the two lines
If the weight of the child is below the lower line it is malnutrition and if the weight of the child is above the upper line it is overweight

9. Growth chart ‘Road to Health chart’

10. Laboratory and Biochemical examination
Laboratory tests – Hb, stool for ova
Biochemical tests – Serum protein, serum iron etc.
Biochemical tests are usually done on a small sample of people

11. Dietary surveys
Dietary survey provide a real picture of the food consumption of the community
It can be done in three ways:
Weighing of raw foods for about 7 days and a average daily consumption is calculated
Weighing cooked food. Even though this is better, most people do not like it.
Oral questionnaire method – quantity of food eaten over the last 24 hours is calculated.

12. The study of Vital Statistics
Nutritional status influence these rates
Infant Mortality Rate
Rate of Low Birth weight
Life expectancy

13. Assessment of Ecological factors
Is necessary to get the complete picture of nutritional status. They are:
Cultural factors - food habits, beliefs
Food production – food cultivation, storage, marketing
Socio-economic factors – family size, educational status, per-capita income
Health and nutritional services – immunization, feeding programmes

14. Summary
It is important to assess the nutritional status of the community to promote health, prevent malnutrition and control malnutrition.
Nutritional surveys will give us the information
Methods of nutritional assessment are:
Clinical examination

15. Summary cont’d
Anthropometry
Lab and biochemical test
Dietary survey
Study of vital statistics
Assessment of ecological factors
Good nutrition leads to healthy people and health community