Correlation Between Mid-Upper Arm Circumference And Body Mass Index As A Tool For Detecting Nutritional Status Among Adolescents In Public And Private Schools In Gullele Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most commonly used anthropometric method for assessing nutritional status. However, it is affected by multiple factors that are limiting its application in low resource settings. Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) is found to solve most of the limitations of BMI. However, due to a lack of sufficient studies, the correlation between MUAC and BMI as well as the MUAC cutoffs corresponding to BMI cutoffs for adolescents has not been established. Objective: To determine the correlation between MUAC and BMI as a tool for detecting nutritional status among adolescents in selected public and private schools in Gullele sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,2024. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted among 616 adolescents (15-19 age) from May-June 2024. A multistage stratified random sampling technique was used. A structured questionnaire was applied with Anthropometric measurements. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was analyzed to determine the correlation between MUAC and BMI for age-z-score (BAZ). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROCC) was analyzed to determine MUAC cut-offs with Sensitivity and specificity. Result: A total of 616 participants were interviewed and measured. MUAC showed strong positive correlation with BAZ (r=0·69; 95% CI P<0.001). The AUROCC to identify overweight was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.864, 0·935) with a MUAC cut-off point > 25.7 cm, sensitivity =90.5% and specificity =79.7%. Likewise, the AUROCC to identify thinness was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.813, 0·897) with a MUAC cut-off point < 23.1 cm, sensitivity =86.7% and specificity =70.9%. Conclusions: MUAC showed a strong positive correlation with BMI-Z score and good accuracy to identify both overweight and thinness among 15–19 years old adolescents. Hence, MUAC can be used as a potential alternative diagnostic tool for identification of overweight and thinness among adolescents aged 15–19 years.