MAA tape (Mother’s Assessment for Action) -Innovation for diagnosis of nutritional vulnerability of children (6 months to 5 years)-A new tool to empower mothers and caregivers

MAA tape (Mother’s Assessment for Action) -Innovation for diagnosis of nutritional vulnerability of children -A new tool to empower mothers and caregivers

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements form the mainstay  for establishing diagnosis of malnutrition. Malnutrition in children is detected  by measurements like weight for age (Underweight), weight for length (wasting) and height for age(stunting) along with MUAC (mid upper arm circumference) in the community and health facility. During the COVID 19 pandemic and in particular subsequent lockdowns, it was difficult for the field level functionaries for health to undertake home visits for monitoring growth, health and immunization of infants and children.

In view of this, we devised a non stretchable cloth tape with a button at 12. 4 cm to be encircled around the mid upper arm of  children 6 months to 59 months of age. Tape had to be used by mothers or care givers(called as mothers)  to assess the nutritional status of their baby as a first screening step to facilitate primary triaging of the children. If the tape button fitted,it meant that baby’s mid upper arm circumference is less than 12.5 cm and hence the baby is likely to have MAM (moderate acute malnutrition) or SAM ( severe acute malnutrition ). The mother was then advised to take the baby to the health facility, primary health center for further confirmatory assessment and treatment as the case may be. The tool thus empowered the mother, hence named as ‘mother’s assessment for action (MAA) tape’. The objective  was to validate and assess  utility of the MAA tape as a first screening device by mothers to facilitate primary triaging of the children.