Outcome Variables

Return to Page2 Outcome Variables

Outcome variables are usually the dependent variables. They are factors that can be measured and can change over time. These values are usually presented as means or frequencies/percentages by group (e.g., Prevalence of underweight by district) and are often the content of cells in tables and on the Y-axis of graphs.

Anthropometry

• Birth weight - Is used to detect the nutritional status at birth and sometimes to estimate situation of a group of individuals or a population.

  • Normal: 2500 grams and above

  • Low birth weight: 1500 to 2499 grams

  • Severe low birth weight: Less than 1500 grams

• Underweight - weight-for-age z-score. Is used as a summary measure of nutritional status of individuals or populations.

  • Normal: -1.00 waz and above

  • Mild underweight: -1.01 to -2.00 waz

  • Moderate underweight: -2.01 to -3.00 waz

  • Severe underweight: Less than -3.00 waz

• Stunting - height-for-age z-score. Is used to measure levels of accumulated undernutrition in individuals or populations.

  • Normal: -1.00 haz and above

  • Mild stunting: -1.01 to -2.00 haz

  • Moderate stunting: -2.01 to -3.00 haz

  • Severe stunting: Less than -3.00 haz

• Wasting - weight-for-height z-score. Is used to measure levels of current undernutrition in individuals or populations - especially useful in emergencies.

  • Normal: -1.00 whz and above

  • Mild wasting: -1.01 to -2.00 whz

  • Moderate wasting: -2.01 to -3.00 whz

  • Severe wasting: Less than -3.00 whz

• Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) - Roughly corresponds to wt/age but is fairly age dependent.

  • Normal: 13.50 cm and above.

  • Moderate malnutrition: 12.5 cm to 13.50 cm.

  • Severe malnutrition: Less than 12.5 cm.

• Body Mass Index - weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, or kgs/m2. It is a measure of obesity or thinness in adults - primarily women of childbearing age.

  • Normal: BMI 18.5-24.99 is the normal range for an individual.

  • Grade 1 thinness: BMI 17.0-18.49

  • Grade 2 thinness: BMI 16.0-16.99

  • Grade 3 thinness: BMI less than 16.00

  • Grade 1 overweight: BMI 25.0-29.99

  • Grade 2 overweight: BMI 30.0-39.99

  • Grade 3 overweight: BMI greater than or equal to 40.00.

Illness prevalence - several common illnesses that greatly affect a child's nutritional status are often targeted in programs to provide prevention and treatment measure; because illness is so directly related to nutritional status, it is measured as an outcome variable.

 

Micronutrient deficiency measures - use the back button to return here

 

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