Alex: male, age unknown. Alex is very thin with loose skin. He is
miserable, irritable and apathetic with oedema. His parents died due to HIV/AIDS
and he is suspected to be HIV infected.
Fatima: female, aged 1 year 8 months. Fatima has generalised oedema,
including feet, legs, hands, arms and face, peeling skin and thin hair. Fatima’s
parents are poor. Their village has no electricity or water.
Sheema: female, aged 2 years. Sheema is very thin with loose skin.
She is miserable, irritable and apathetic but has no oedema. Her mother is
a single parent, working long hours and has no education.
Paula: female, aged 6 months. Paula appears quiet. She is a bit thin
with a slightly swollen stomach. She had a normal birth weight and was breastfed
for one month. After that, she has been bottle fed and had several episodes
of diarrhoea and vomiting due to contaminated water.
Kofi: male, aged 4 years 6 months. Kofi appears to have a good weight
for his age. He seems happy and calm. He is one of 8 children. His parents
are educated.
Ola: female, aged 1 year 1 month. Ola has Malaria. She has oedema
of feet, lower legs, hands and lower arms. Her mother can only afford to
feed her with watery maize porridge
Jack: male, aged 3 years 3 months. Jack is short compared with his
friends and he is thin. He is alert. His father is a widower and struggles
with looking after him and his sister, Annie.
Adam: male, age unknown. Adam has no oedema. He is very thin and he
is living in a refugee camp and his mother is quite ill.
Nkosi: female, aged 8 months. Nkosi seems to be a happy child. Her
eyes are clear and bright. Her skin is healthy and glowing. Her parents understand
how and what to feed her to keep her well.
Mary: female, aged 3 years 1 month. Mary weighs more than her same
aged friends but is shorter than them. Her parents are busy with their jobs
with little time to cook.
Annie: female, aged 6 years 1 month. Annie is quite tall but thin.
She is quiet. Her father is a widower and struggles with looking after her
and her brother, Jack.
Page 2 of 4
Introduction
Look at the children on the right.
Q. What information can you use to assess the nutritional status of the children
on the right?
a) Height/length
b) Ethnicity
c) MUAC
d) Waist circumference
e) Weight
f) Age
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The correct answers are a), c), e) and f). You will learn about them in Unit 1.
Please complete the question.
