A New Alternative Indicator for Chronic Energy Deficiency in Women of Childbearing Age in Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Indicators for assessment of nutritional status in women of childbearing age (WCA) in particular to detect the risk of chronic energy deficiency (CED) were limited. Currently, we used mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) as a screening tool of CED and Body Mass Index (BMI) for CED status assessment, but have some limitations. This paper aims to develop a new indicator for the risk assessment of CED on WCA in Indonesia.Methods: The design was a cross sectional study. This analysis used a part of National Basic Health Health Research (Riskesdas) 2013 among 1009 WCA (18-49 years) in Makassar and Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi Province. ROC analysis was used to obtain the optimal formula and the cut off point with BMI <18.5 as the gold standard.Results: The study found that the optimal formula was MUAC/√UAL < 4.25 to detect a risk of CED, better validity (Sn = 80%; Sp= 84%) compared to MUAC < 23,5 (Sn = 76%; Sp= 87.2 %) with the gold standard was Body Mass Index (BMI). Prevalence of CED on women of reproductive age 9.9% (BMI<18.5); 22.4% (MUAC/√UAL <4.25). Correlation MUAC to weightr = 0.82; UAL to height r = 0.45; MUAC to BMI r = 0.82 and ratio of MUAC/√UAL to BMI r = 0.80 (P = 0.000). Conclusion: The ratio of MUAC/√UAL < 4.25 can be new alternative indicator that simple and effective for detecting CED on WCA (18-49 years) in Indonesia. (Health Science Indones 2014;2:54-9