Summary
In the months of May and June 1976, a study was made of the feeding patterns, nutritional and health status of 82 children in the first year of life in Manaus, Amazonas. Almost half of the children were considered to be suffering differing degrees of malnutrition accompanied by high indices of infection. A high proportion of the children had low birth weights, suggesting significant levels of intrauterine growth retardation and maternal malnutrition. Contributory factors were considered to be early substitution of breast milk for artificial milk, a lack of mother and child health care services and nutritional orientation. Of the few mothers who received nutritional advice, the majority received advice incompatible with their socio-economic and educational status.