Neonatal and Child Growth Monitoring: A Renewed Call for Uptake and Application of International Growth Standards.

Abstract

The Guidance for International Growth Standards (GIGS) project aims to improve and promote appropriate application of international growth standards across clinical, research and public health settings. A guidance document providing historical and conceptual context to support the appropriate application of international growth standards. Global; applicable across public health, clinical, research and epidemiological contexts where child growth monitoring is key. Neonates and children under 5 years. Narrative synthesis of key growth monitoring approaches, historical evolution of growth charts and a renewed call for a standardised assessment of child growth using a suite of international standards. Not applicable. This paper does not report original outcomes, but highlights intended use and application of growth standards. Presents a historical overview of growth chart development, clarifies distinctions between descriptive, prescriptive and customised standards and introduces the rationale and a suite of statistical tools provided by the GIGS project. The paper presents insights from three companion papers, providing a structured guide to growth standard application. The appropriate and correct application of international growth standards offers the opportunity to improve early identification of at-risk infants and children and reduce global disparities in child health outcomes. The GIGS project provides a structured framework and set of tools to operationalise these standards, supporting consistent application across diverse settings and facilitating progress towards global child health goals.