ANTHROPOMETRY AND CHILDHOOD MORTALITY IN NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST UGANDA

Two longitudinal studies were carried out in northwest and southwest U ganda to examine the relationship between anthropometry and childhood mortality. Although the prevalence of malnutrition was significantly d ifferent between the two geographic areas, the relative risk for morta lity associated with low levels of anthropometry was similar. When the anthropometric parameters were compared among each other, mid-upper a rm circumference was found to be the most powerful predictor of mortal ity. The findings of this study confirm that mid-upper arm circumferen ce is the indicator of choice to identify children at higher risk of d eath.