Bredow, M.T.; Jackson, Alan A.
Author Affiliation, Ana.
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit
Community based, effective, low cost approach to the treatment of severe malnutrition in rural Jamaica
Archives of Disease in Childhood
Date of Publication
Describes the work at a low cost, community based treatment programme for moderately and severely malnourished children under 3 years of age which was established at a health centre in rural Jamaica. Children were followed up monthly and defaulters were rigorously recalled. Management consisted of carefully delivered dietary advice, antibiotics, anthelminthics, and vitamin supplements. All children improved and the response of 36 children, who were treated in the first year, showed an accelerated weight gain, with catch-up growth and the maintenance of length gain. There was a significant increase in the weight for age, at 1.9 percent per month over six months, which exceeds the rate reported with food supplementation programmes and nutrition rehabilitation centres....