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The ecology of nutritional status and development in young children in Kingston, Jamaica
Insights
Poor nutrition and developmental delays are prevalent in young children in Kingston, Jamaica. Stunting and low weight-for-age significantly impacted developmental quotients (DQs), highlighting critical areas for intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Child Development
Background:
- Poverty in urban areas like Kingston, Jamaica, can negatively impact child health.
- Assessing nutritional status and developmental levels is crucial for early intervention.
- Understanding risk factors associated with malnutrition and developmental delays is essential for targeted programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the nutritional status and developmental levels of young children in two impoverished neighborhoods in Kingston, Jamaica.
- To identify characteristics of children exhibiting poor nutritional status and developmental outcomes.
- To determine the relationship between nutritional indicators and developmental quotients (DQs).
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted in two poor neighborhoods in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Nutritional status was assessed in 309 children under 48 months.
- Developmental levels were assessed in 168 children aged 6–30 months.
Main Results:
- 31% of children had Gomez grade 1 malnutrition, 9% grade 2, and 1.6% grade 3.
- Stunting was more prevalent than wasting; both nutritional indicators and DQs declined with age.
- Poor nutrition was associated with girls, poor housing, low maternal education, and maternal employment. Low DQs were linked to boys and maternal employment.
Conclusions:
- Childhood malnutrition and developmental deficits are significant issues in the studied Kingston neighborhoods.
- Stunting (height-for-age) and low weight-for-age were significant predictors of lower developmental quotients (DQs).
- Interventions should address nutritional deficiencies, particularly stunting, and consider socioeconomic factors affecting child development.
Abstract:
A survey of two poor neighborhoods in Kingston, Jamaica is reported. The nutritional status in children under 48 months (309) and the developmental levels of children between six and thirty months (168) were assessed. Characteristics of children with poor nutritional status and development were identified. Thirty-one percent of the children had Gomez grade 1 malnutrition, 9% had Gomez grade 2, and 1.6% had Gomez grade 3. There was somewhat more stunting than wasting. Nutritional indicators, weight for age and weight for height, as well as developmental levels declined with the children's age. Children with poor nutritional status tended to be girls, have poor housing, mothers with low levels of education, and mothers who worked. Children with low developmental quotients (DQs) tended to be boys and have mothers who worked. Multiple regression analysis showed that stunting (ht/age) and weight for age had significant effects on DQ, whereas wasting (wt/ht) did not.