Food and Nutrition Bulletin Volume 20, Number 1, 1999 (UNU, 1999, 181 pages): Effects of health and nutrition on cognitive and behavioural development in children in the first three years of life. Part 1: Low birthweight, breastfeeding, and protein-energy malnutrition: Policy implications and recommendations

Food and Nutrition Bulletin Volume 20, Number 1, 1999 (UNU, 1999, 181 pages)

Effects of health and nutrition on cognitive and behavioural development in children in the first three years of life. Part 1: Low birthweight, breastfeeding, and protein-energy malnutrition

		(introductory text...)
		Abstract
		Introduction
		Low birthweight
		Studies of children in the first two years
		Studies of children two to seven years of age
		Studies of children 7 to 17 years of age
		Other outcomes
		Interactions with the environment
		Conclusions about the effects of IUGR on development
		Breastfeeding
		Study design
		Short-term effects of breastfeeding
		Long-term effects of breastfeeding
		Mechanism
		Conclusions and policy implications
		Protein-energy malnutrition
		Severe malnutrition
		Moderate stunting and wasting
		Longitudinal associations
		Supplementation studies
		Vulnerable age
		Mechanism
		Conclusions about mild-to-moderate stunting
		Policy implications and recommendations
		References

Policy implications and recommendations

In countries where stunting is highly prevalent, there is an urgent need to institute programmes to improve children's nutritional status. Such programmes are probably most effective if they are instituted among children in the first three years of life [154] and are integrated with child care and psychosocial interventions.