Growth and development of abandoned babies in institutional care in Nairobi.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the pattern of growth and development of institutionalised infants and to compare the outcome with that of infants living with their biological mothers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Seven children's homes; Kenyatta National Hospital's New Born Unit and Well Baby Clinics in Nairobi, Kenya.


METHODS
Eighty-two abandoned babies who fulfilled the selection criteria were recruited and for each abandoned baby two mothered babies matched for age and sex were selected from the well baby clinics.


METHODS
Anthropometric measures of weight, length, head circumference and left mid arm circumference (LUMAC) were taken and the mean values and Z scores determined to demonstrate growth pattern and nutritional status of the babies. The Revised Denver Development Screening Test (RDDST) was used to assess the development pattern of infants.


RESULTS
Seventy per cent of infants were below six months old and 73% were abandoned within the first week of life. Abandoned babies were significantly thinner with the mean LUMAC of 10.8 cm versus 12.3 cm (p = 0.02) Institutionalised babies were significantly wasted (p = 0.00001) and stunted (p = 0.00001). Abandoned babies were significantly delayed in development (p < 0.0001). In all the four sectors tested for, institutionalised babies showed significant delay, p < 0.0001 in each sector.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that infants under institutional care have poorer growth and development compared to mothered infants.
Otieno
P A
PA
Clinical Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nduati
R W
RW
Musoke
R N
RN
Wasunna
A O
AO
D000886:Anthropometry; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002670:Child, Abandoned; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007326:Institutionalization; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009752:Nutritional Status; D019372:Orphanages; D014504:Urban Health