[Maternal incompetence syndrome. Report of three cases (author's transl)]

This paper presents three cases of children suffering from repeated diseases and failure to thrive as a consequence of maternal inability in providing health care. Mother's oligophrenia, poverty, and familial unbalance were underlying causes. Authors define maternal incompetence syndrome as the association of mother's incapacity to provide proper health care with direct injury to the child and decreased growth rate. The relationship between this syndrome and the pediatric social illness is discussed. Strategies for treatment should include creation of multidisciplinary teams of social pediatricians, social workers and psychologists, and development of health education programs.