A consensus report on the development of growth screening tool for preschool-aged children

Abstract

Introduction: The first few years of a child’s life are the most crucial for appropriate growth and development. As per the latest National Family and Health Survey (2019-21), India still faces a dual burden of malnutrition with a significant number of children below the age 5 either stunted, wasted, or overweight. This necessitates periodic screening of a child’s growth. Early identification can go a long way in addressing areas of concern and improving future health outcomes. Objective: This tool was created with the objective of screening the holistic growth of preschool children. Methodology: A questionnaire was developed taking into consideration four important aspects that need to be tracked to assess the holistic growth and development of a child – Body mass index (BMI), questions related to health habits, overall well-being and immunity and, age-appropriate achievement of developmental milestones. An advisory board committee was formed comprising three Paediatricians, one Developmental Paediatrician, and three Nutritionists. Results: Questions under each category were discussed and finalized. A consensus on the scoring pattern was reached and the tool was developed after the agreement of all the board members. The tool was named “Growth Chakra”. Conclusion: This tool is an easy parent-friendly tool to assess growth in preschool children. This tool is not a diagnostic tool and cannot replace medical advice. The findings of this tool will help create awareness about the child’s growth and help to identify the need for medical or nutritional intervention.