Maternal and child health: WHO child growth standards: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Maternal and child health: WHO child growth standards

Sample item

The WHO child growth standards (2006) were derived from:

AChildren from low-income countriesBFormula-fed children in the United StatesCPreterm babiesDHealthy breastfed children from six countries living in optimal conditions

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Healthy breastfed children from six countries living in optimal conditions

The Multicentre Growth Reference Study enrolled healthy, breastfed children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the USA with optimal feeding and non-smoking mothers, giving a prescriptive standard of how children should grow.

Option by option

A. Children from low-income countries
They were not drawn from deprived populations.
B. Formula-fed children in the United States
The earlier NCHS reference used mainly US formula-fed children.
C. Preterm babies
Preterm babies are not the reference group.
D. Healthy breastfed children from six countries living in optimal conditions (correct)
Correct. They describe optimal growth in breastfed children.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Healthy breastfed children from six countries living in optimal conditions. The Multicentre Growth Reference Study enrolled healthy, breastfed children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the USA with optimal feeding and non-smoking mothers, giving a prescriptive standard of how children should grow.

Why is "Children from low-income countries" not the answer?

They were not drawn from deprived populations.

Why is "Formula-fed children in the United States" not the answer?

The earlier NCHS reference used mainly US formula-fed children.

Why is "Preterm babies" not the answer?

Preterm babies are not the reference group.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Maternal and child health: WHO child growth standards in PSM. The correct option holds because: Correct. They describe optimal growth in breastfed children.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Maternal and child health: WHO child growth standards?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.