(OR25-04-24) Using Mid-Upper Arm Circumference z-score Tapes in Pediatric Community Sports and Wellness Programming Equips Non-Healthcare Professionals to Identify Malnutrition Risk

Objectives: Historically, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) has been instrumental to identifying malnutrition in resource restricted settings. Updated and validated pediatric MUAC growth curves incorporating age- and gender-specific data (z-scores) expand screening eligibility for malnutrition (2 months-18 years) including overweight/obesity. An innovative partnership was created to integrate MUAC z-score measurement trainings and screenings in the Real Madrid Foundation’s (RMF) Social Sports Schools (S³) program, which provide sports and wellness programming to under-resourced communities. This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of leveraging non-healthcare professionals (HCPs) to identify malnutrition risk as part of RMF S³.

Methods: This global, two-part program on malnutrition risk identification included training adult facilitators and screening children attending RMF S³. RMF facilitators were trained with didactic lectures on malnutrition, and practical hands-on learning of proper MUAC z-score tape measurement. Aggregate data on facilitators and the number of times to correctly administer the MUAC z-tape were recorded. Aggregate data on child malnutrition risk screenings were collected. This abstract reports RMF facilitator data only.

Results: Nine countries participated representing Europe, Pacific Asia, Africa, Latin America, and North America. In total, 143 RMF facilitators were trained across 11 sites. More than half were male (56%, n=80), and majority were coaches (41.3%, n=59), followed by staff (25.2%, n=36), and volunteers (16.1%, n=23). Facilitator attempts ranged from 1 to 4 times for proper MUAC z-score administration with mean 2.12 (± 0.86). There were no significant differences for attempts among RMF facilitator types (p=0.10).

Conclusions: Findings from our sample demonstrate that integration of MUAC z-score based malnutrition risk screening within community sports and wellness programming among non-HCPs is feasible. Equipping non-HCP facilitators in community sports and wellness programs with training on malnutrition screening provides a means to meet under-resourced families where they live to begin conversations around malnutrition risk with the hope of establishing additional pathways to care.

Funding Sources: This study was funded by the Abbott Center for Malnutrition Solutions.