Introduction: According toNFHS-3; In India , 65% i.e. nearly 80 million children under five year of age suffer from varying
degree of undernutrition(according to WHO classification). Various classifications are being used to know the nutritional status
of children , latest one being WHO classification for undernutrition given in 2006. Here we aim to compare WHO classification
with Indian Academy of Pediatrics(IAP) classification for malnutrition in children.
Material Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in Vadodara District of Gujarat during 2009 till 2011. 1000
children between 6 months till 60 months of age were included. Their height/ length and weight were recorder and classified
according to WHO and IAP classification and these were compared statistically.
Results: WHO classification classified 90% of children undernourished whereas IAP classification classified 80% of children as
undernourished. According to WHO criteria 32% and in IAP criteria only 10% children were severely undernourished. When
compared, there was statistically significant (p=0.000) difference in classification by these classifications.
Conclusion: WHO classification detects more children with undernutrition but has drawback of classifying more of them in
severe category as compared to IAP classification.