artículo científico
Malnutrition and infection in a typical rural Guatemalan Village: Lessons for the planning of preventive measures
Fecha
2010-09-01Registro en:
1543-5237
0367-0244
10.1080/03670244.1975.9990405
Autor
Mata Jiménez, Leonardo
Behar, Moisés
Institución
Resumen
A long-term prospective study of fetal and postnatal growth and possible influenceson growth was initiated in
1963in a Guatemalan village.A high proportion of the infants were of low birth weight and they were more at
risk to death in the first year of life than infants with higher birth weights.The latter also had a better chance of
survivingthe criticalweaning period. There was a very high prevalenceof infection in infancy and childhood, and
a high proportion of infants with elevated cord IgM levels suggests that there had been intrauterine antigenic
stimulation.
Postnatal growth was generallysatisfactory for the first 8-16 weeksof life but by one year the majority of the
children were belowthe standard for height and weight,and growth continued to be unsatisfactory until the third
or fourth year. There was evidencethat growth was being retarded by infections and that they had their greatest
effect during the second year of life. It is suggested that maternal infections are an important component of the
etiology of fetal growth retardation and that planning of priorities for maternal and child health in developing
countries should take this into account