Towards a capability approach to child growth: A theoretical framework
Towards a capability approach to child growth: A theoretical framework
复制标题
DOI：
10.1111/mcn.12534
复制
发表时间：
2018-04-01
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Van Hensbroek, Pieter Boele
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Haisma, Hinke;Yousefzadeh, Sepideh;Van Hensbroek, Pieter Boele
儿童营养不良是地球仪各地5岁以下儿童死亡和发病的一个重要原因。尽管减少儿童死亡率的（国际）努力取得了部分成功，但5岁以下儿童死亡率仍然很高。可持续发展目标的多层面方法可能为重新思考降低儿童死亡率和营养不良的战略提供新的方向。我们提出了一个理论框架，发展能力的方法来儿童成长。目前的儿童生长监测做法基于两个假设：（a）人体测量和运动发育措施是适当的指标;（B）可以使用适用于世界各地的单一通用标准评估儿童生长。通过对儿童成长采用能力方法，可以进一步推进这些做法，将成长重新定义为（社会、父母和儿童的）某些能力的实现。这个框架类似于Amartya Sen的开创性工作中提出的社会发展的多维方法。为了确定健康儿童成长的维度，我们借鉴了社会科学和进化生物学的理论。从概念上讲，我们认为成长是一个多元的空间，并建议通过一个儿童成长矩阵，其中的背景是嵌入在评估的方式来评估增长。这种方法将更好地解决儿童成长中的困难和不平等问题。这种多层面措施将对干预措施和政策，包括预防和咨询产生影响，并可能对儿童营养不良和死亡率产生影响。
Child malnutrition is an important cause of under-5 mortality and morbidity around the globe. Despite the partial success of (inter)national efforts to reduce child mortality, under-5 mortality rates continue to be high. The multidimensional approaches of the Sustainable Development Goals may suggest new directions for rethinking strategies for reducing child mortality and malnutrition. We propose a theoretical framework for developing a capability approach to child growth. The current child growth monitoring practices are based on 2 assumptions: (a) that anthropometric and motor development measures are the appropriate indicators; and (b) that child growth can be assessed using a single universal standard that is applicable around the world. These practices may be further advanced by applying a capability approach to child growth, whereby growth is redefined as the achievement of certain capabilities (of society, parents, and children). This framework is similar to the multidimensional approach to societal development presented in the seminal work of Amartya Sen. To identify the dimensions of healthy child growth, we draw upon theories from the social sciences and evolutionary biology. Conceptually, we consider growth as a plural space and propose assessing growth by means of a child growth matrix in which the context is embedded in the assessment. This approach will better address the diversities and the inequalities in child growth. Such a multidimensional measure will have implications for interventions and policy, including prevention and counselling, and could have an impact on child malnutrition and mortality.