WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition

WHO is continuing to build up its 'Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition'. This is a standardised compilation of child growth data from population-based nutritional surveys conducted around the world from 1960 onwards. At present the database covers 94% of the total population of under five year olds in developing countries or 84% world-wide. The data should be of interest to national authorities and agencies in planning and evaluating emergency and non-emergency interventions.

The overall objective of establishing the database is to describe the world-wide distribution of child growth failure, provide an accurate picture of child growth as a basis for inter-country and inter-regional comparisons, and to facilitate monitoring of national, regional and global trends. The database is being continually up dated with results from national, regional, provincial, district or local data which fulfil the criteria for inclusion in the Global Database. The criteria as well as the methodology of this database are explained in a summary paper The world-wide magnitude of protein-energy malnutrition: an overview from the WHO Global Database on Child Growth by de Onis M et al. (WHO Bull 1993;71: 703-712) which is available on the net at http://www.who.cho.ch under 'Selected WHO databases'. The WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition is addressed to those who collect or have collected nutritional data which fulfil the criteria mentioned in the summary paper. Anybody having suitable data are requested to send the filled-in data-entry form together with the background documentation on the completed survey to the contact address mentioned below. Reprints of the summary paper and data-entry forms may also be requested from the address below. WHO welcomes new contributions.

At present, requests for data from the WHO Global Database are received via all forms of communication. Responses are dispatched as print-outs of the relevant country data. Costs depend on the amount of data requested.

Further information contact: Dr Mercedes de Onis, Nutrition Programme, 20 Avenue Appia, Telephone CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. Tel (+4122) 7913320 Fax (+4122) 7910746 E-mail: bloessnerm@who.ch or deonism@who.ch