Often cases of stunting or failure to thrive in children are associated with the child’s anthropometry. It aims to monitor the growth and development of children up to the age of 2 years. Children’s anthropometry can be measured through measurements of body weight, body length or height as well as upper arm and head circumference. Then, how to measure child anthropometry?
Things to Understand Before Measure Child Anthropometry!
It should be understood that Anthropometric measurements to calculate nutritional value basically include measurements of Body Weight, Body Length or Height as well as Upper Arm and Head Circumference. So that Anthropometric measurements in children and adults can use the same four indicators. The only difference is the measuring instruments and standards.
However, it should be noted that in every anthropometric measurement it is necessary to pay attention to several things, namely gender and age. These two things will determine the anthropometric standards that need to be achieved at a certain age.
Therefore, the sex and age of the child need to be considered in measuring the child’s anthropometry. The following is how to measure children’s anthropometry along with the Indonesian Children’s Anthropometry standards.
Measuring Child Anthropometry Trough The Body Weight
Weight is the most crucial indicator in a child’s growth. The reason is, body weight can easily change if there is increased nutritional intake or reduced nutritional intake. In fact, a child’s weight that doesn’t go up or even drops suddenly can indicate that the child is infected with a disease.
Body weight is also the main anthropometric indicator for children because it describes the current state of the child’s nutritional value. Body weight describes the composition of protein, fat, water and minerals contained in the body.
Measuring the weight of children under 2 years of age can be done with Digital Baby Scales. Please note that Digital Baby Scales must have a high level of accuracy of up to 5 grams so that even the slightest change can be detected properly.
Read More : TKDN Certified Digital Baby Weight Scale From Metrisis, Accuracy Up to 5gr!
Here’s the right way to measure body weight on a baby
Measuring Child Anthropometry Trough The Body Length
Body Length or Height is a representation of nutritional intake in the long term, even since being in the womb. That is, if the child’s body length is below anthropometric standards in general, it means that the child has been malnourished for a long time. With this indicator, health workers can identify cases of stunting in infants.
Measuring children’s anthropometry with body length can be done with a measuring instrument called the Infantometer Board. The Infantometer Board is a measuring board made of ABS plastic, according to the direction of the Ministry of Health and has a base like the letter V. The Infantometer Board is often used in various health service centers, one of which is the Posyandu.
Here’s the right way to measure the length of a baby
Assessment of nutritional status based on age and body height indicators is
- Very short: less than -3 SD
- Short: -3 SD to less than -2 SD
- Normal: -2 SD to +3 SD
- Height: over +3 SD
this measurement could be used on 0 to 2 years old child
3. Measuring Child Anthropometry Trough the Head and Arm Circumference
Like anthropometric measurements of children with body weight, upper arm circumference can identify the lack of calories your little one is receiving. This condition is referred to as Energy and Protein Deficiency (PEM).
The circumference of the child’s upper arm describes the overall fat reserves in the body. The size of the upper arm circumference indicates that there is quite a lot of body fat. However, if the size of the upper arm circumference is small, it indicates a small supply of fat.
The LILA standard according to the Ministry of Health quoted from the Ministry of Health’s Assessment of Infant Nutritional Status is around 5.4 cm in the first year of life and <11.5 cm at the age of 2-5 years and LILA normal babies are less sensitive for the following year.
The measuring tool for measuring children’s anthropometry with upper arm and head circumference is the LILA tape. LiLA tape is fairly easy to find at a fairly affordable price.
Here’s the right way to measure head and arm circumference :
Get a Tool to Measure Children’s Anthropometry
PT Solo Abadi Indonesia is committed to continuing to contribute to the Indonesian Government’s efforts to strengthen domestic production of Medical Devices. We present the Anthropometry Kit, a tool for measuring children’s anthropometry with quality that meets the standards of the Ministry of Health. We also partner with various government agencies and private parties as a form of our contribution.
For more information you can get through our admin via WhatsApp. Follow updates on the Solo Abadi website, www.soloabadi.com for info about stunting. You can also get METRISIS Digital Baby Scales in the E-CATALOG.
