Unit 1: Definition of malnutrition
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Classification of Malnutrition
The steps you use for calculating weight-for-length SD score are shown below. The steps are the same for weight-for-height.

• Step 1: use the WHO weight-for-length table (growth standards)
• Step 2: use the boys chart for boys and the girls chart for girls
• Step 3: find the child’s length on the left
• Step 4: find the closest match to the child’s weight for that row on the right
• Step 5: look to the top of the column to see the SD score
• Step 6: if the weight is below a SD Score, write "less than" (<)

Q. Let us try to calculate SD scores with Sheema on the right. Open the WHO weight-for-length table top right and calculate her weight-for-length SD score. Then click the submit button.

• Sheema’s weight-for-length SD score: SD
WHO Girls Weight-for-length Standard Deviation
Name: Sheema
Age: 2 yrs 0 mnths
Sex: female
Length: 67.0cm
Weight: 3.9kg