Behaviour of severely malnourished children in a Jamaican hospital.
The behaviour of 18 children with severe malnutrition between the ages of six and 24 months was observed. They were compared with 21 age-matched adequately nourished children in hospital with other diseases, and were given regular developmental assessments with the Griffiths test. On admission to hospital the malnourished children were less active and more apathetic than the controls when alone in their cots, while the controls were more distressed. When given toys, initially the malnourished children explored them less, using fewer play actions and touching fewer toys. These differences were not present on recovery. Initial behaviour did not predict later developmental levels.
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.
S
S
Grantham-McGregor
M
M
Stewart
C
C
Powell
D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation