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. 2018;7(1):9-16.
doi: 10.21106/ijma.217.

Nutritional Assessment and Maternal Perception of Toddler Body Size using Toddler Silhouette Scale in Nigeria a Developing Country

Oluwafunmilayo Funke Adeniyi  1 , Ekanem Ekure  1 , Foluke A Olatona  2 , Elizabeth O Ajayi  1 , Nwaoma Nworgu  1
Affiliations

Nutritional Assessment and Maternal Perception of Toddler Body Size using Toddler Silhouette Scale in Nigeria a Developing Country

Oluwafunmilayo Funke Adeniyi et al. Int J MCH AIDS. 2018.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The toddler silhouettes scales have been validated in the caucascian population in developing countries but in the African population, the use of these scales is yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of mothers on the body size of toddlers using a validated scale in an African population.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study of 241 mothers and their toddlers. Study participants were recruited from the immunization and pediatric clinics. The mothers' perceptions of the body sizes of toddlers and their own child was determined with the use of a validated 7-scale toddler silhouette. Each mother also assessed their own child with the scale. Each child's anthropometry was documented.

Results: Majority of the mothers were able to correctly classify the underweight (95.0%) and overweight toddler silhouettes (95.7%). However, 30% of the respondents misclassified Silhouette 6 (overweight silhouette) as normal and 48.2% of the respondents misclassified a normal silhouette as underweight. The overall maternal accuracy in assessing their toddler size was 41.1%. There was a significant relationship between maternal accuracy and the maternal educational status, tribe, and toddler size.

Conclusions and global health implications: Toddler silhouette scales is a quick way of assessing the body size of children and could be of significant use in the developing countries. There is a need for caregivers to accurately assess the body size of their children as this will significantly influence the food mothers will give their children and thus children's eventual growth and development.

Keywords: Child Anthropometry; Childhood Obesity; Developing Countries; Nigeria; Nutritional Assessment; Toddler Silhouette.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no relevant conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Toddler Silhouette Scale: 1- Underweight, 2-5 Normal, 6-7 Overweight Adapted from: Hager ER McGill AE, Black MM. Development and validation of a toddler silhouette scale. Obesity. 2010; 18(2):397-401
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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