Assessment of Undernutrition Among Under-Five Children by Using Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF)

Undernutrition is acknowledged as a significant public health concern across many developing nations. Anthropometric measures serve as crucial tools for estimating the extent of undernutrition in children globally. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), offers a comprehensive assessment of undernutrition, aggregating various anthropometric indices to identify single or multiple anthropometric failures in children under five. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of undernutrition using anthropometric measures and CIAF among urban slum children. Conducted as a cross-sectional community-based investigation in the slum areas of Sambalpur District, Odisha, India, the study employed standard procedures to measure height and weight anthropometrically. Age-sex-specific Z-score values for weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height were calculated. A Z-score below -2.00 for any anthropometric index was indicative of undernourishment. The prevalence of undernutrition was determined using the standard CIAF classification. The study found an overall prevalence of wasting, underweight, stunting, and CIAF at 22.4%, 34.7%, 40.7%, and 58%, respectively. Sex-specific prevalence rates for wasting (23.9% vs. 20.9%), underweight (37.3% vs. 32.2%), stunting (39.9% vs. 41.5%), and CIAF (60.1% vs. 56%) exhibited statistically non-significant differences between boys and girls (p > 0.05). Notably, the investigation highlighted the CIAF's utility as it revealed a higher magnitude of undernutrition compared to conventional anthropometric measures.