title: Nutrition and health in the first year of life on a Pacific atoll. Observations on Abemama Atoll, Central Pacific.
abstract: The growth of 50 children on a coral atoll has been studied during their first year of life. Initially the population median weight rose above the international norm, but later declined, resulting in a median weight at 12 months below this norm. Data on age of introduction of foods, diarrhoeal illness and general morbidity indicated an association between growth faltering and episodes of fever between four and 12 months but no association with diarrhoea. No statistically significant relationships were found between the age of introducing solid food and the age of first diarrhoea, or between the ages of introduction of protein or energy foods and growth faltering. The effects of fever on growth are probably mediated by temporary appetite suppression in the context of marginal nutrition accentuated by the difficulties of weaning. Records of village or home treated illnesses highlight the discrepancies between village and health service based records.
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010139:Pacific Islands; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins