Undernutrition for 5 to 19 year olds

Prevalence rate (%) of children and adolescents 5-19 years of age with Z-scores defined as BMI-for-age index less than -2 standard deviations from the median BMI of a reference population of children/adolescents of the same age and/or having bilateral pitting oedema

Unit Description

Percentage

Numerator

Number of children and adolescents 5-19 years that meet the criteria for undernutrition

Denominator

Total number of children and adolescents 5-19 years surveyed

Disaggregation

Geographical area, sex

Indicator used for response monitoring ?

Yes

Types

Baseline

Outcome

Threshold / Standard

WHO Reference 2007 www.who.int/growthref.

General guidance

Should be based on a methodologically solid anthropometric nutrition survey finding and include Confidence Intervals

Guidance on phases

Preparatory and phase iv and beyond

Phase applicability

Pre-crisis/Baseline

Phase 4

Comments

Particularly important for adolescent girls. Data on the undernutrition rate should be compared by sex in order to identify any specific discrimination girls, boys, adolescent girls and adolescent boys might face in accessing nutrition. In case there is an important difference between the percentage of girls and the percentage of boys suffering from undernutrition, the programme should address these gaps by undertaking a gender analysis of the specific challenges the disadvantaged group is facing, including an analysis of the socio cultural habits and beliefs that might differently impact on girls' and boys' nutritional well being. Note: the indicator includes 5.0 to 19.0 years. Based on WHO 2007 reference population