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PedNSS
Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System

 
Cover of 2001 PedNSS Report
2002 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Report* (PDF - 540K)
   

Background and Problem Description

In the late 1960s, the United States Ten-State Nutrition Survey characterized the nutritional status of children from low-income families as being less than satisfactory. These findings generated concern about the nutritional status of low-income populations in the United States. Specifically, calories, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C were less likely to be consumed in adequate amounts by low-income black and Hispanic children. In response, CDC began working with five states in 1972 to develop a system for continuously monitoring the nutritional status of specific high-risk population groups. Data already being collected in participating programs, such as growth measurements and hemoglobin concentrations, were used to form the basis of the PedNSS.

An important use of the PedNSS data is monitoring the Healthy People 2010 objectives. These objectives are designed to serve as a goal for monitoring progress towards improving the health status of the nation. Examples of those that are relevant to the health of infants and children and that can be monitored by PedNSS include the following 2010 objectives:*

  • Reduce very low birthweight to 0.9 percent. (16–10a)
  • Reduce low birthweight to 5 percent. (16–10b)
  • Increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed in the early postpartum period to 75 percent. (16–19a)
  • Increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed at 6 months to 50 percent. (16–19b)
  • Increase the proportion of mothers who breastfeed at 1 year to 25 percent. (16–19c)
  • Reduce growth retardation among low-income children under 5 years of age to 5 percent. (19–4)

* The objective number follows the objective.

 


Purpose

The Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) is intended to provide a framework for tabulating and interpreting state-specific information on the nutritional characteristics of low-income children. These data are useful to both health professionals who manage public health programs and those who are involved in the direct care of low-income children. The data can be used to --

  1. Identify prevalent nutrition-related problems;
  2. Identify high risk groups;
  3. Monitor trends;
  4. Target resources for program planning; and
  5. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Description

PedNSS is designed as a program-based surveillance system. It uses already available data collected from health, nutrition, and food assistance programs for infants and children, such as the Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program (WIC); Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT); and clinics funded by Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) Block Grants. Data are collected on socio-demographic variables (ethnicity/race, age, geographic location), birth weight, anthropometric indices (height/length, weight), iron status (hemoglobin and/or hematocrit), and breastfeeding.

State health departments that choose to participate in the PedNSS submit data to CDC on a monthly basis. Data are sent to CDC on computer tapes or disks. Monthly reports listing children at high nutritional risk and reported errors are sent back to surveillance participants. These data are analyzed semi-annually and annually and summaries are returned for use in program planning, management, and evaluation of state and local maternal and child health programs and activities. Data analysis occurs at both CDC and the state level. CDC provides assistance to the participants on using and interpreting their data. CDC encourages the PedNSS participants to distribute appropriate sections of the summaries to individual counties, clinics, and programs.

Progress/Results

The initial purpose of the PedNSS was to monitor growth, iron status, and breastfeeding. The system has expanded from five states in 1973 to 39 states and territories, 6 tribal governments, and the District of Columbia in 2002.

Future PedNSS developments will continue to increase state capacity for nutrition surveillance. Efforts are being made to include more children who participate in programs other than the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In addition, CDC is developing statistical tools to monitor and improve data quality. CDC will continue to be the focal point for technical assistance, consultation, and training to states, for the collection, processing, analysis, interpretation, and the use of PedNSS data.

Report in Portable Document Format (PDF)


Related Information

 

*This document is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader (a free application) to view and print this document.

 

 



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This page last updated March 22, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity