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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Children in an urban township in Zambia: a prospective study of children during their first year of life
Authors:Watts, Th.
Ng'andu, N.
Wray, J.
Year:1990
Periodical:Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
Volume:36
Issue:6
Pages:287-293
Language:English
Geographic term:Zambia
Subject:child health
External link:http://tropej.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/36/6/287
Abstract:In a prospective study of 257 children in Lusaka (Zambia) during their first year of life the infant mortality rate was 118 per thousand live births. Deaths were due to prematurity and respiratory problems during the first few months of life, and diarrhoea, measles, and malnutrition during the later months. The low birth weight rate was 11 percent. Growth was good during the first 6 months, but thereafter was faltering in weight gain and gain in length faltered after 8 months. By age year 1 only 12 percent attained the average weight-for-age, and 8 percent the average height-for-age. Breastfeeding decreased in frequency very gradually over the first year with 66 percent of children still being breastfed more than six times a day at a year. Meals were usually given only three times a day and consisted mainly of maize porridge with vegetables, beans, or meat when it could be afforded. Over 70 percent of children were fully immunized. Milestones were generally achieved at expected ages or even earlier. Where they were delayed most of the children affected died within a couple of months. Recommendations are made on the surveillance of infants in urban areas and the provision of a precooked fortified appropriate weaning food obtained at health centres. Ref.
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