Final answer:
A z-score below -3 indicates severe wasting in a child's growth chart data. Z-scores quantify how many standard deviations a measurement is from the mean.
Step-by-step explanation:
When reviewing a child's growth chart data, the child's weight-for-length curve falling below the 3rd percentile correlates to the concern of the child being severely wasted.
In the context of z-scores and child growth monitoring, a z-score below -3 indicates severe wasting. This z-score suggests that the child's weight, for their length and age, is significantly below the median of the reference population.
suggesting severe undernutrition and potential health risks.The World Health Organization uses z-scores to measure child development by comparing the weights of children who are the same height and gender.
To calculate z-scores for the given weights:
For a weight of 7.9 kg, the z-score would be (7.9 - 10.2) / 0.8 = -2.875.
A weight of 12.2 kg gives a z-score of (12.2 - 10.2) / 0.8 = 2.5.
Z-scores are standardized measures that show how many standard deviations a measurement is from the mean. A positive z-score means the measurement is above the mean, while a negative z-score means it is below the mean.
In the scenario where someone lost 10 pounds and the z-score is 2.5, it means the loss is 2.5 standard deviations to the right (above) the mean weight of the reference population.