Use of growth charts as a simple epidemiological monitoring system of nutritional status of children

Community monitoring of the nutritional status of children has hitherto involved field surveys and lengthy computer analysis. These procedures are complex and cannot always be carried out on a routine basis. In addition, they do not provide immediate feedback or longitudinal information on the population under surveillance. This study describes a simple, universally applicable community survey system for monitoring the growth of infants and children that affords both cross-sectional and longitudinal data.