Growth of previously well-nourished infants in poor homes

In this study, 26 Peruvian infants from very poor families were placed shortly after birth in a convalescent unit and given an adequate diet. After remaining in the unit for periods ranging from 7 to 33 months, the infants were returned to their original homes. The study report opens with a summary of purpose, assumptions, and overall results. Next, it provides methodological specifications regarding the infants" diet, health care and their general treatment at the convalescent unit, and comments on infant weight-for-age measurements both in the convalescent unit and at home. The subsequent section lists height, weight, head circumference, and age data from the study and briefly describes the regression equations developed to compare subjects" measurements with those of infants in the U.S. In the final section, results are discussed and evaluated. The paper concludes that, while the growth rate of infants from poor families is temporarily normalized by adequate diet, such early maximal growth does not protect against eventual stunting if dietary supplements are discontinued. Growth rate tables and figures are provided.