The preventable antecedents of childhood malnutrition.

A survey of 5 Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan was made in order to determine the risks of malnutrition in a community with regular health services adequate immunization reasonable housing and availability of food and safe water. Of the 92 cases of malnutrition detected 75 of them (82%) could be correctly predicted as being at risk of undernutrition. Repeated diarrhea and ill-health and early bottle feeding (before the age of 3 months) were the 3 most prevalent risk factors associated with cases of undernutrition. In nearly 1/2 the malnourished children the beginning of undernutrition could be traced to the decision of the mother regarding breastfeeding. In the case of almost 75% of the undernourished children the mothers were either illiterate or only functionally literate. Low birthweight was more common amongst the undernourished group. The need for parental education and health awareness is stressed. It is suggested that in communities where grosser forms of childhood malnutrition are common such risk factors acting singly or in combination predispose the individual who may then be precipitated into gross malnutrition because of a period of food shortage or acute infectious illness.