The optimal mid-upper-arm circumference cutoffs to screen severe acute malnutrition in Vietnamese children.

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a main cause of mortality among children under five years old. Vietnam needs further study to establish the optimal mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) cutoff for improving the accuracy of the MUAC indicator in screening SAM children aged 6-59 months. A survey was conducted at all 16 subdistricts across four provinces in Northern Midlands and mountainous areas.