What happens to children who develop moderate or severe malnutrition? What is done for them? Keeping in mind these questions, the present research was undertaken with the following objectives: to assess the nutritional status of children who develop moderate or severe malnutrition before the age of 5 years, after a period from 2 to 4 years after diagnosis; to assess the nutritional status of the under 5-year old siblings of these children; to study the influence of nutritional programs available in the community for the improvement of the nutritional status of the malnourished children; and to identify factors interfering with nutrition of these children during the study period. After a period of 2 to 4 years from the time of diagnosis of moderate or severe malnutrition the authors tried to locate the families of 61 malnourished children of Porto Alegre, RS (Brazil). The mothers their substitutes were interviewed and the children and siblings under 5 years of age were weighed and measured. Thirty-nine children were located. Of these, 4 (10%) died and 22 (56%) presented an increase of at least 10% in weight for age. Of the 35 children who survived, 29 (82%) still presented some degree of malnutrition (weight/age < 90% of the standard), 25 (71%) were stunted (height/age < 95%), and 5 (14%) were wasted (weight/height < 90%). The nutritional status of the 5-year old siblings was similar to that of the malnourished children. The factors showing some association with better nutrition (an increase in weight/age of 10% or more during the study period and/or adequate height/age or weight/height) were: history of at least one hospitalization during follow-up, early detection of malnutrition (before the age of 6 months), and literate mothers. The nutritional programs available in the community did not show any influence on the nutritional status of the malnourished children and their siblings. The present study shows that a more efficient intervention is necessary in the families who are at higher risk for infant morbimortality.
Protein-caloire malnutrition; Supplementary feeding; Nutritional status
