Abstract
Background: Evidence on the association between feeding practices, iron deficiency, anaemia, stunting, and impaired psychomotor development during infancy is limited. This study assessed the association between psychomotor development with early feeding practices, growth, iron status, and anaemia. Methods: This was cross-sectional baseline data of a randomised controlled trial which included 6-month-old infants and their mothers or primary caregivers (n = 750) in a peri-urban community in the North West province of South Africa. The Kilifi Developmental Inventory and a parent rating scale were used to assess psychomotor development. Feeding practices and anthropometric measurements were based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. Anaemia and iron status were determined by blood sample analysis. Results: Prevalence of anaemia and stunting for the infants were 36.4% and 28.5%, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that birth weight was related to combined psychomotor scores (β = −3.427 (−4.603, 1.891), p < 0.001), as well as parent rating scores (β = −0.843 (−1.507, −0.180), p = 0.013). Length-for-age z-scores were associated with combined psychomotor scores (β = −1.419 (−2.466, 0.373), p = 0.008), as well as parent rating scores (β = −0.747 (−1.483, −0.010), p = 0.047). Conclusions: In this setting, with high prevalence of anaemia and stunting, important associations between lower psychomotor development scores and birthweight as well as length-for-age z-scores in 6-month-old infants were found. These findings warrant further investigation to develop a greater understanding of factors influencing the association between child growth and psychomotor development within the first 1000 days of life.
Highlights
Infants and young children attain their optimal development through a combination of genetic potential, psychosocial stimulation, adequate nutrition, and a safe, clean physical environment [1].An estimated 250 million children younger than 5 years (43%) in low- and middle-income countries, with 66% in Sub-Saharan Africa, are at risk of not reaching their development potential becauseNutrients 2018, 10, 73; doi:10.3390/nu10010073 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2018, 10, 73 of extreme poverty and stunting [2]
Infants are especially susceptible to iron deficiency because of the high amounts of iron required for their growth coupled with a diet low in bioavailable iron [10]
Even though several studies reported that psychomotor development is associated with nutritional status or breastfeeding practices [2,44,45,46,47], the association of psychomotor development at the age of 6 months with nutritional status, as well as early introduction of complementary foods, has been largely unexplored
Summary
Infants and young children attain their optimal development through a combination of genetic potential, psychosocial stimulation, adequate nutrition, and a safe, clean physical environment [1].An estimated 250 million children younger than 5 years (43%) in low- and middle-income countries, with 66% in Sub-Saharan Africa, are at risk of not reaching their development potential becauseNutrients 2018, 10, 73; doi:10.3390/nu10010073 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2018, 10, 73 of extreme poverty and stunting [2]. Evidence on the association between feeding practices, iron deficiency, anaemia, stunting, and impaired psychomotor development during infancy is limited. This study assessed the association between psychomotor development with early feeding practices, growth, iron status, and anaemia. Conclusions: In this setting, with high prevalence of anaemia and stunting, important associations between lower psychomotor development scores and birthweight as well as length-for-age z-scores in 6-month-old infants were found. These findings warrant further investigation to develop a greater understanding of factors influencing the association between child growth and psychomotor development within the first 1000 days of life
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