Abstract
Background and Objectives:The toddler silhouettes scales have been validated in the caucascian population in developing countries but in the African population, the use of these scales is yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of mothers on the body size of toddlers using a validated scale in an African population.Methods:This was a cross sectional study of 241 mothers and their toddlers. Study participants were recruited from the immunization and pediatric clinics. The mothers’ perceptions of the body sizes of toddlers and their own child was determined with the use of a validated 7-scale toddler silhouette. Each mother also assessed their own child with the scale. Each child’s anthropometry was documented.Results:Majority of the mothers were able to correctly classify the underweight (95.0%) and overweight toddler silhouettes (95.7%). However, 30% of the respondents misclassified Silhouette 6 (overweight silhouette) as normal and 48.2% of the respondents misclassified a normal silhouette as underweight. The overall maternal accuracy in assessing their toddler size was 41.1%. There was a significant relationship between maternal accuracy and the maternal educational status, tribe, and toddler size.Conclusions and Global Health implications:Toddler silhouette scales is a quick way of assessing the body size of children and could be of significant use in the developing countries. There is a need for caregivers to accurately assess the body size of their children as this will significantly influence the food mothers will give their children and thus children’s eventual growth and development.
Highlights
There has been an epidemic of childhood obesity and this has not excluded the developing countries like Nigeria.[1]
The aims of this study were to 1) determine the nutritional status of toddlers, 2) examine the accuracy of maternal perceptions of the toddler body size with the use of the toddler silhouette scale; and 3) identify the factors associated with maternal accuracy in an African population
Informed written consent was obtained from the parents of the children and confidentiality of all the information obtained from the study participants was ensured
Summary
There has been an epidemic of childhood obesity and this has not excluded the developing countries like Nigeria.[1]. 1990 and 2010 and is expected to reach 12.7% by the year 2020.2 Reports from Nigeria have documented prevalence rates which vary from 5%-11%.3,4 from different parts of the country in the last decade the country like other developing countries is facing the double burden of malnutrition i.e. undernutrition and overweight/obesity With this upsurge in pediatric obesity and its attendant complications, there is increasing need for identification of children who are overweight and obese so that appropriate prevention strategies can be instituted.[2] The use of pediatric silhouette tools has been employed in many developed countries to enable parents and caregivers recognise overweight and obesity in toddlers and older children.[1,5,6,7] Recognition of child weight considerably influences parental choice in feeding patterns and such choices impact on the nutritional status of children remarkably.[1,6,7,8] Different pediatric silhouette scales are available and have been validated for use in research and clinical settings.[1,5,6,7] The toddler silhouette scales in particular have been used by parents/caregivers and health professionals and comparative studies between these two groups in the recognition of normal sized children or otherwise have been found to be remarkably useful in the clinical settings.[1] in the African population and in the Nigerian context the use of the silhouette scale has not really been employed for studies on childhood obesity or undernutrition. The toddler silhouettes scales have been validated in the caucascian population in developing countries but in the African population, the use of these scales is yet to be evaluated.The aim of this study was to determine the perception of mothers on the body size of toddlers using a validated scale in an African population
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