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Growth and development of abandoned babies in institutional care in Nairobi
P A Otieno1, R W Nduati, R N Musoke
1Clinical Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Insights
Institutionalized infants show significantly poorer growth and development compared to those raised by their mothers. This highlights critical differences in infant care outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Development
- Public Health
Background:
- Infant growth and development are crucial indicators of early life health.
- Institutional care settings may present unique challenges to optimal infant development.
- Comparing outcomes between institutionalized and mother-raised infants is vital for understanding developmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the growth and developmental patterns of institutionalized infants.
- To compare the growth and developmental outcomes of institutionalized infants with those raised by their biological mothers.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Eighty-two abandoned infants in children's homes were compared with 164 mother-raised infants matched for age and sex.
- Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference, left mid arm circumference) and the Revised Denver Development Screening Test (RDDST) were utilized.
Main Results:
- Institutionalized infants were significantly thinner, wasted, and stunted compared to mothered infants.
- Mean left mid arm circumference (LUMAC) was significantly lower in abandoned infants (10.8 cm) versus mothered infants (12.3 cm).
- Institutionalized infants exhibited significant developmental delays across all assessed domains (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Infants in institutional care demonstrate inferior growth and developmental outcomes compared to infants raised by their mothers.
- The findings underscore the impact of care environment on infant well-being.
- Early intervention and improved care practices in institutional settings are warranted.
Objective:
To determine the pattern of growth and development of institutionalised infants and to compare the outcome with that of infants living with their biological mothers.
Design:
A cross-sectional survey.
Setting:
Seven children's homes; Kenyatta National Hospital's New Born Unit and Well Baby Clinics in Nairobi, Kenya.
Participants:
Eighty-two abandoned babies who fulfilled the selection criteria were recruited and for each abandoned baby two mothered babies matched for age and sex were selected from the well baby clinics.
Main Outcome Measures:
Anthropometric measures of weight, length, head circumference and left mid arm circumference (LUMAC) were taken and the mean values and Z scores determined to demonstrate growth pattern and nutritional status of the babies. The Revised Denver Development Screening Test (RDDST) was used to assess the development pattern of infants.
Results:
Seventy per cent of infants were below six months old and 73% were abandoned within the first week of life. Abandoned babies were significantly thinner with the mean LUMAC of 10.8 cm versus 12.3 cm (p = 0.02) Institutionalised babies were significantly wasted (p = 0.00001) and stunted (p = 0.00001). Abandoned babies were significantly delayed in development (p < 0.0001). In all the four sectors tested for, institutionalised babies showed significant delay, p < 0.0001 in each sector.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates that infants under institutional care have poorer growth and development compared to mothered infants.