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pubmed:otherAbstract |
PIP: A nutritional intervention program in 4 villages, with 3 control villages, in Khon Kaen Province, Northeast Thailand, in 1982-1985, is evaluated in terms of the nutritional status of children. In these villages where no severe poverty existed, 37% of children under 5 were underweight, 8-15% were wasted and 35-40% were stunted. Common causes of wasting are infections, neglect, improper feeding, prolonged exclusive breast feeding, and family crises. Results were evaluated by median and standard deviations of percentages of wasted children, of stunted and underweight children, using -2.0 S.D. as they cut-off value for each village. There were marked seasonal variations, with more underweight in the rainy (planting) and dry (harvesting) seasons than in the cold season, which was correlated with fewer infections and better appetites in children. Decrements in rates of underweight and wasting were observed in both index and control villages (n.s.). Best results were observed in villages where there was good cooperation from the villagers and their health workers. This compromised the findings of the study, since there was one very cooperative village among the controls, and one less cooperative village in the intervention group. Days of illness per child fell from 22.5 to 7.2 in cooperative villages, and rose from 16.5 to 20.2 in the less cooperative villages. Best results were obtained with regular home visits and regular growth monitoring, combined with nutritional and health advice.
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