Comparison of World Health Organization growth standards with Indian Academy of Pediatrics growth charts of under-five children in a rural area of Puducherry

Abstract

Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) growth charts by assessing the height for age and weight for age among children under 5 years of age. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 13 months with a sample size of 500. The anthropometric assessments were taken and plotted on both WHO and IAP growth charts. Results: The WHO and IAP charts regarding weight were comparable for both boys and girls. However, the height chart in WHO showed more stunting as compared to IAP growth charts, with the difference between the two being statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: India's own growth standards (IAP growth charts) may be more ideal for assessing growth than WHO growth standards, especially as regards height of children.