Search strategies for different databases.

BackgroundAccurate anthropometric data is essential for assessing nutritional status. To ensure data quality, careful planning of instruments, training and supervision of enumerators are mandatory. In Ethiopia, where malnutrition rates are high, investigating the methodological quality of anthropometric measurements in primary studies is crucial for ensuring the credibility of reports. Therefore, this review assesses the reporting characteristics and methodological quality of anthropometric measurements in primary studies conducted in Ethiopia, focusing on the nutritional status of school children.MethodsA comprehensive systematic search was conducted to include primary studies that reported on children’s growth from Medline, AJOL, Embase, and CINAHL. Additional sources, such as Google Scholar, ProQuest, Addis Ababa, and Jimma University’s repositories were also accessed. Studies whose primary objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of children using anthropometric measurements were included in the review. The results were organized in EndNote, screened in Covidence, extracted in Excel and analyzed in Stata.ResultsOf the 678 retrieved records, 30 (n = 18,059) studies were included in the review. The studies used different exclusion criteria: 14 (46.7%) excluded children with physical deformities, seven (23.3%) excluded children who received anti-parasitic treatment within a specified time and four (13.3%) excluded children who were taking nutritional supplements. About 22 (73.3%) studies did not mention standardization, while 17 (56.7%) did not mention the calibration of instruments. Furthermore, about 12 (40%) studies did not report the setting where the measurements were obtained.ConclusionInconsistencies in reporting key methodological details of anthropometric measurements were identified, highlighting a potential gap or loose interpretations of the STROBE-nut reporting checklist for studies that measure anthropometry to assess the nutritional status of children. Therefore, we recommend strengthening the STROBE-nut by giving emphasis to the quality assurance aspect of anthropometric measurements including standardization, calibration, material, setting, number of measurements taken and measurer qualifications.【背景】准确的人体测量学（anthropometric）数据是评估儿童营养状况的核心依据。为保障数据质量，必须对测量工具进行周密规划，并对调查员开展系统培训与全程督导。在营养不良患病率居高不下的埃塞俄比亚，探究原始研究中人体测量学方法的质量，对确保研究报告的学术可信度至关重要。因此，本系统评价旨在评估埃塞俄比亚境内开展的、以学龄儿童营养状况为研究重点的人体测量学原始研究的报告特征与方法学质量。 【方法】本研究通过全面的系统检索，纳入来自Medline、AJOL、Embase及CINAHL数据库中报告儿童生长发育情况的原始研究；同时检索了Google Scholar、ProQuest、亚的斯亚贝巴大学与吉姆马大学的学术机构馆藏库。本评价纳入的研究均以采用人体测量学方法评估儿童营养状况为核心研究目标。研究结果通过EndNote进行文献管理与整理、Covidence完成文献筛选、Excel提取研究数据，并采用Stata进行统计分析。 【结果】本研究共检索到678条有效记录，最终纳入30项符合标准的原始研究，总样本量达18059例。纳入研究采用了不同的排除标准：14项（占比46.7%）排除存在躯体畸形的儿童，7项（23.3%）排除特定时间段内接受抗寄生虫治疗的儿童，4项（13.3%）排除正在服用营养补充剂的儿童。约22项（73.3%）研究未提及测量标准化流程，17项（56.7%）未提及测量仪器的校准情况；此外，约12项（40%）研究未报告测量实施的具体场所信息。 【结论】本研究发现，人体测量学关键方法学细节的报告存在显著不一致性，凸显出针对以人体测量学方法评估儿童营养状况的研究而言，STROBE-nut报告规范存在落实缺口或解读松散的问题。因此，本研究建议强化STROBE-nut报告规范，重点强调人体测量学的质量保障环节，包括测量标准化、仪器校准、测量工具、实施场所、测量次数及测量人员资质等核心内容。