Nutritional supplementation, psychosocial stimulation, and mental development of stunted children: the Jamaican Study

摘要: There is little unequivocal evidence that nutritional supplementation of undernourished children has a beneficial effect on their mental development. The effects supplementation, with or without psychosocial stimulation, growth-retarded (stunted) aged 9-24 months were assessed in study Kingston, Jamaica. 129 from poor neighbourhoods randomly assigned to four groups--control, supplemented only, stimulated and plus stimulated. A group matched non-stunted (n = 32) was also included. supplement comprised 1 kg milk-based formula per week for 2 years, the stimulation weekly play sessions at home community health aide. children's development (DQ) Griffiths scales. Initially stunted groups' DQs lower than those group, control declined during study, increasing deficit. Stimulation had significant independent Estimates ranged 2.2 (95% confidence limits-1.4, 5.7) hand eye subscale 12.4 (5.4, 19.5) locomotor 6.4 (2.8, 10.0) 10.3 (3.3, 17.3) locomotor. treatment additive, combined interventions significantly more effective either alone. These findings suggest least partly attributable undernutrition.