Clinical nutrition | 2019
Adult characteristics of survivors of early life malnutrition in an impoverished population.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS\nTo determine the characteristics of adults who survived early life malnutrition (ELM) and the possible associated factors. The setting is an impoverished community in Kenya. The coastal region of Kenya has a high prevalence of acute protein-energy-malnutrition and stunting.\n\n\nMETHODS\nObservational cross-sectional survey where 872 skeletally mature adults of African origin, were surveyed in a period of three months. A discrimination tool to detect ELM survivors was created. Personal, historical and family data were collected in a semi-structured questionnaire. Various observations and body measurements were done. The subjects were grouped into two, those with ELM (Group1), and those without (Group2).\n\n\nRESULTS\nGroup1 had 242 participants, 49.8% males, mean age of 49.1\xa0±\xa08.7 years. Group2 had 630 participants, 48.3% males, mean age 41.0\xa0±\xa09.7 years. The phenotypic characteristics included height, BMI, and head circumference (P\xa0<\xa00.05). Developmental characteristics were duration of schooling, occupation and income (P\xa0<\xa00.001). Factors associated with malnutrition were County of origin, parental education, parental occupation, and family size (P\xa0<\xa00.001).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThere are discernible phenotypic and developmental characteristics associated with adult survivors of ELM. The predisposing factors for ELM are location of birth, parental education and occupation, and family size.