The Methods Used by Family Doctors to Check for Malnutrition in Children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63278/jicrcr.vi.1257Abstract
Background: Malnutrition is a significant public health concern affecting both adults and children, with an estimated 6% to 18% prevalence among hospitalized children. Family physicians (GPs) play a key role in identifying malnutrition in children, but practices around its screening, particularly regarding the measurement of body mass index (BMI) and growth charts, remain inconsistent.
Methods: A study was conducted among 102 family physicians to assess their practices in screening for malnutrition in children. The survey included questions on the measurement of weight, height, BMI, and growth chart analysis, as well as the use of personal health books and training in paediatric malnutrition screening. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests to compare practices between GPs who routinely measured BMI and those who did not.
Results: While 95% of GPs used BMI to assess malnutrition, only 33.3% consistently measured both height and BMI. Approximately 79.4% measured weight, and 79.2% recorded weight and height in health books. However, 25.7% of GPs did not routinely record these measurements due to reliance on software. Only 9.8% had received formal training in paediatric malnutrition screening, though 89% expressed a desire for further training. GPs who regularly measured BMI were more likely to review growth charts and prescribe dietary supplements for children.
Conclusion: Despite the availability of software tools, GPs do not consistently measure height and BMI, which may delay the diagnosis of malnutrition. Inadequate analysis of growth charts and incomplete data transmission through health books contribute to information gaps between healthcare providers. There is a need for increased training and awareness to improve nutritional monitoring and early malnutrition detection in children. Implementing standardized electronic health records and prompting regular measurements could improve the accuracy and consistency of malnutrition screening practices.
