Earlier introduction of aguitas is associated with higher risk of stunting in infants and toddlers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
BACKGROUND
In many cultures, simple herbal infusions, thin gruels, or sweetened water (agüitas in Guatemalan parlance) are given to infants and toddlers. Formative research has shown that the use of agüitas in early child feeding is deeply embedded in Guatemalan culture.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the prevalence and timing of the introduction of agüitas during early life in a low-income population of metropolitan Quetzaltenango in relation to stunting in children.


METHODS
Responses from 456 mothers of children aged 5-23 mo were analyzed by using logistic regression to explore relations between linear growth (stunting), diarrhea, and age at the first introduction of agüitas.


RESULTS
A total of 358 of 456 infants (79%) were agüita users independent of sex or ethnicity. Of infants given agüitas, one-fourth of subjects were introduced to agüitas within the first 2.9 wk of age, and one-half of subjects were introduced to agüitas within the first 9 wk of age. Subjects introduced to agüitas before 2.9 wk of age were 1.8 times more likely to be stunted (95% CI: 1.1, 2.8; P = 0.03) irrespective of ethnicity. Children who had ever been given agüitas were twice as likely to have also had diarrhea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.3, 3.3) and more likely to have needed medical attention for diarrhea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.2), but diarrheal experience was independent of stunting.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the early introduction of agüitas and the high prevalence of stunting in Guatemala, longitudinal studies are urgently needed to clarify the causal relations. This trial was registered at Nederlands Trial register as NTR3273 for 5-mo-olds and Nederlands Trial register as NTR3292 for infants ≥6 mo.
Department of Health Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. c.m.doak@vu.nl
Colleen M
CM
Doak
Robine E
RE
van der Starre
Ilse
I
van Beusekom
Maiza
M
Campos Ponce
Marieke
M
Vossenaar
Noel W
NW
Solomons
D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013383:Suburban Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000032:analysis
D013549:Sweetening Agents