The effects of malaria control on nutritional status in infancy.
Both malaria and undernutrition are major causes of paediatric mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. The introduction of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITBN) during a randomized controlled trial on the Kenyan coast significantly reduced severe, life-threatening malaria and all-cause childhood mortality. This paper describes the effects of the intervention upon the nutritional status of infants aged between 1 and 11 months of age. Seven hundred and eighty seven infants who slept under ITBN and 692 contemporaneous control infants, were seen during one of three cross-sectional surveys conducted during a one year period. Standardized weight-for-age and mid-upper arm circumference measures were significantly higher among infants who used ITBN compared with control infants. Whether these improvements in markers of nutritional status were a direct result of concomitant reductions in clinical malaria episodes remains uncertain. Never-the-less evidence suggests that even moderate increases in weight-for-age scores can significantly reduce the probability of mortality in childhood and ITBN may provide additional gains to child survival beyond their impressive effects upon malaria-specific events.
Snow
R W
RW
Clinical Research Centre, Kilifi Unit, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Kenya.
Molyneux
C S
CS
Njeru
E K
EK
Omumbo
J
J
Nevill
C G
CG
Muniu
E
E
Marsh
K
K
D001512:Bedding and Linens; D015415:Biomarkers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009032:Mosquito Control; D015430:Weight Gain
D015415:Biomarkers; D007306:Insecticides