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Early development in children with moderate acute malnutrition: A cross-sectional study in Burkina Faso

Mette F Olsen1, Ann-Sophie Iuel-Brockdorff1, Charles W Yaméogo1,2

  • 1Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Maternal & Child Nutrition
|December 12, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) show impaired motor and language development. Nutritional status, particularly higher hemoglobin and iron levels, positively impacts development, while illness and inflammation are detrimental.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Nutritional Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Malnutrition significantly hinders cognitive, communication, and motor development in children.
  • The specific associations between nutrition, health, and development in children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) remain under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the motor and language development of children with MAM.
  • To investigate the nutritional and health-related factors associated with development in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a nutritional trial in Burkina Faso.
  • Utilized the Malawi Development Assessment Tool (MDAT) to assess motor and language skills in children aged 6-23 months.
  • Employed linear mixed models to explore correlates including socio-economic status, anthropometry, body composition, fatty acids, hemoglobin, iron status, and morbidity.

Main Results:

  • Children with MAM exhibited lower-than-average gross motor and language skills, but higher-than-average fine motor skills.
  • Improved mid-upper arm circumference, weight-for-height, height-for-age, fat-free mass, n-3 PUFAs, hemoglobin, and iron status were linked to better development.
  • Higher fat mass index, anemia, illness, inflammation, larger household size, and unmarried mothers were associated with poorer development outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Nutritional status (e.g., hemoglobin, iron) and health are significant correlates of motor and language development in children with MAM.
  • Interventions targeting nutritional and health improvements are crucial for stimulating child development during and after MAM management.
  • Child and caregiver participation during assessments influences observed developmental scores, particularly concerning morbidity associations.

Keywords:
Africaanthropometrybody compositionchild developmenthaemoglobinmoderate acute malnutritionpolyunsaturated fatty acids

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