Maternal and environmental factors associated with infections and undernutrition in young Australian Aboriginal children

Forty-eight Aboriginal infants in remote communities in north-west Australia were studied monthly from birth to 2 years. Birthweight and growth were positively associated with maternal health during pregnancy, regular antenatal supervision and lack of drinking alcohol or smoking tobacco as well as with personal and family hygiene. Impaired growth was associated with families which had more expensive consumer goods such as televisions, air conditioners, video cassette recorders and cassette tape players. Most children had impaired growth or frank failure to thrive which was associated with high rates of infections, particularly of the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts, and high rates of hospitalization.