Table 2 Characteristics of the studies included (N = 21)

Continent ^a

N (%)

 Africa

11 (52)

 Asia

9 (43)

 Latin America

1(5)

Setting

N (%)

 Rural

15 (71)

 Urban

3 (14)

 Both

3 (14)

Type of study

N (%)

 Longitudinal study

9 (43)

 Repeated cross-sectional studies

7 (33)

 Cohort

3 (14)

 Secondary data analysis

1(5)

 Growth monitoring data (health centre)

1(5)

Age group

N (%)

 0 to 59 months

4 (19)

 6 to 59 months

4 (19)

 12 to 59 months

3 (14)

 6 to 36 months

2 (10)

 Other^b

8 (38)

Independent variable

N (%)

 Seasonal change

17 (81)

 Devaluation of CFA franc

1(5)

 Drought and financial crisis 1997/1998

1(5)

 Herd dynamic, food, biophysical and seasonality

1(5)

 Seasonal change and change over the years

1(5)

Dependent variable

N (%)

 WFHL

18 (86)

 WFA

13 (62)

 H/LFA

12 (57)

 MUAC

7 (33)

 Weight

7 (33)

 Height

7 (33)

 MUAC-for-Age

3 (14)

 Other^c

6 (29)

Number of dependent variables

N (%)

 One

4 (19)

 Two

1(5)

 Three

8 (38)

 Four

1(5)

 Five

4 (19)

 Six +

3 (14)

Variable treatment

N (%)

 Change in mean and prevalence of indice(s)

10 (48)

 Change in mean indice(s)

7 (33)

 Change in prevalence of indice(s)

6 (29)

 Standard

N (%)

 NCHS

11 (52)

 WHO

7 (33)

 Harvard

2 (10)

 CDC-2000

1(5)

Unit

N (%)

 Z-score

14 (67)

 % median

5 (24)

 % of median & Z-score

2 (10)