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Behaviour and development of stunted and nonstunted Jamaican children
J M Gardner1, S M Grantham-McGregor, J Himes
1Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
Insights
Stunted children exhibit behavioral differences linked to developmental delays. While nutritional supplementation improved cognitive outcomes, it did not significantly alter behavior in young children.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Childhood stunting is associated with impaired cognitive and developmental outcomes.
- Understanding the behavioral mechanisms underlying developmental delays in stunted children is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the behavior of stunted and non-stunted children aged 12-24 months.
- To examine the relationship between behavior and developmental levels in stunted children.
- To assess the impact of nutritional supplementation and psychosocial stimulation on the behavior of stunted children.
Main Methods:
- Observational study comparing behavior of stunted (N=78) and non-stunted (N=26) children over 6 months.
- Behavioral assessments included exploration, emotional expression, and caretaker interactions.
- Developmental levels were measured using the Griffiths Scales at enrollment and 12/24 months post-enrollment.
Main Results:
- Stunted children displayed significantly more apathy, less exploratory enthusiasm, and were less happy and more fussy than non-stunted peers.
- Caretaker vocalizations were less warm and instructive towards stunted children.
- Stunted children's activity, exploration, and happy behaviors predicted developmental changes, while supplementation predicted mental age but not behavior.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral characteristics of stunted children are distinct and linked to their developmental trajectories.
- Targeted behavioral interventions may be necessary to complement nutritional strategies for improving developmental outcomes in stunted children.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between nutrition, behavior, and development in early childhood.
Abstract:
In order to examine the mechanism whereby stunted children have poor developmental levels, we compared the behaviour of stunted (N = 78) and nonstunted (N = 26) children aged 12 to 24 months, and examined the relationship of their behaviour to their developmental levels. The effect of nutritional supplementation with or without psychosocial stimulation on the stunted children's behaviour was also examined. The children were observed at home during 4 days over a period of 6 months. The stunted children showed significantly more apathy, and less enthusiasm and variety in exploring, were less happy and more fussy. Caretakers' vocalisations to them were less warm or instructive. Stunted children's activity level, exploratory and happy behaviours were predictive of change in developmental levels measured on the Griffiths Scales, from enrolment to 12 and 24 months later. Supplementation predicted mental age at 12 and 24 months after enrolment, however, it had no significant effect on behaviour.