What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the bidirectional interactions between malnutrition and infectious disease in young children across rural communities, while evaluating the impact of nutritional supplementation and integrated medical care.

May 1, 1967Archives of Environmental Health An International Journal

Nutrition and Infection Field Study in Guatemalan Villages, 1959–1964

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Authors

NSNevin S. ScrimshawUnited Nations Development Programme MGMiguel A. GuzmánSaint Louis University JGJohn E. GordonBoston University

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Implication

Prospective controlled field study reveals massive underreporting of malnutrition deaths in young children, highlighting lethal synergistic interactions between poor nutrition and infection.

Key Points

To examine the bidirectional interactions between malnutrition and infectious disease in young children across rural communities, while evaluating the impact of nutritional supplementation and integrated medical care.
Conducted a 5-year prospective epidemiological field study (1959–1964) combining long-term natural observation of controls with controlled interventional trials across 4 rural Guatemalan communities.
Tracked children under 5 years old receiving supplementary food alongside breast milk and integrated health care services relative to unsupplemented populations.
Investigated mortality rates, clinical symptoms, and disease incidence using direct field epidemiology surveys rather than official death registries.
Up to 85% of children aged 1–4 years experienced weight-for-age deficiencies greater than 10% below middle-class family standards.
Two-fifths (40%) of children dying between ages 1 and 4 demonstrated clinical signs of kwashiorkor, despite only 1 death under age 15 being officially registered as caused by malnutrition.
Infection and malnutrition exhibited strong synergism, wherein acute infection precipitated overt nutritional disease in borderline children, and existing malnutrition markedly increased the severity and frequency of infections.

Cite This Study

Scrimshaw et al. (1967) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a986aebf1f63e8fc8f37dbe https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1967.10664814

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Implication

Prospective controlled field study reveals massive underreporting of malnutrition deaths in young children, highlighting lethal synergistic interactions between poor nutrition and infection.

Nutrition and Infection Field Study in Guatemalan Villages, 1959–1964

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Nutrition and Infection Field Study in Guatemalan Villages, 1959–1964

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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