Central American Children Research Articles

Intestinal Parasites in Central American Immigrants in the United States

We describe the results of ova and parasite examinations of 216 Central Americans who were seen at a Los Angeles, Calif, clinic during an 8-month period. Among the 125 immigrants from Central America, intestinal parasitic prevalence was 53%. Pathogens were found in 45% and multiple pathogens in 21%. Of the 91 US born Central American children, parasite prevalence was 14%. Pathogens were found in 12%. The most common pathogens were Trichuris trichiura, Giardia lamblia, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Giardia lamblia was more prevalent in the younger than 5-year-old age group, and helminths were more prevalent in the 6- to 10-year-old age group. No helminths were found in immigrants who had been in the US for more than 3 years. Gastrointestinal symptoms did not correlate with prevalence of parasites. The high prevalence of intestinal parasites supports previous recommendations for screening; decisions for screening should be based on morbidity (probably low), efficacy and safety of treatment (good), and costs.

Anthropological involvement in the Central American diarrheal disease control project

The process of conducting applied anthropologial work leading to health program development and evaluation is seldom described in the literature. This paper discusses the combination of factors which led to the involvement of anthropologists in the Central American Child Survival Project and how anthropological approaches are being used in the project. Ethnoclassification was used to illustrate the discrepancy between the proposed approach to treatment for dehydration produced by diarrheal disease and the actual beliefs and practices in 4 Central American communities. Techniques such as rapid, focused assessment using anthropological methods of data collection and presentation are discussed, as are strategies for presenting this information to health program planners and administrators.

Vitamin A deficiency and anemia in Central American children

In order to investigate the role of vitamin A nutriture in the prevalence of anemia in Central America, a retrospective evaluation of the data of the six Institute of Nutrition of Central Americal and Panama/Office for International Research nutrition surveys of Central America and Panama has been made. Three groups of children; 1 to 4, 5 to 8, and 9 to 12 years old, living between 0 and 2,5000 feet above sea level were studeid. Several biochemical and dietary parameters related to anemia were corrleated with plasma levels of retinol. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years showed a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and plasma retinol. Children aged 1 to 4 years did not show a similar correlation. In children of all age groups there were positive correlations between plasma retinol and serum iron. Percent saturation of transferrin was also found to be lower when plasma retinol levels were low. Children with an adequate intake of iron, as classified by both dietary information and socioeconomic level, showed a significant positive correlation between plasma retinol levels and iron in their serum. In contrast, no correlation was found when dietary iron was low. In the light of these findings, a possible relationship between vitamin A deficiency and anemia is suggested.

Timing of Neurological Development in Rural Guatemalan Children

This is a cross-sectional study of the anthropometric measurements and neurological evaluation of 559 children under 36 months of age (286 boys and 273 girls) from a rural area of Guatemala. Height and weight were compared with values from well-nourished Central American children which do not differ from North American standards. Head circumference was compared to standards from 14 different studies compiled from the world literature. The analysis of the data showed that the study population was far behind these standards in its physical growth characteristics. Results are presented for the timing of neuromotor skill development by calculation of the 16th, 50th and 84th percentiles for individual neurological functions by the probit method. Comparable data from other populations using the probit method of analysis are generally not available. One exception is the age of walking, which appeared to be delayed approximately four months in the rural Guatemalan children when compared to previous studies analyzed in this manner. These results should not be taken as patterns or norms but rather as a baseline for future studies.

Serum vitamin A, retinol-binding protein, and prealbumin concentrations in protein-calorie malnutrition: II. Treatment including supplemental vitamin A

The serum retinol transport system has been studied in eight Central American children with marasmic kwashiorkor treated with protein, calories, and supplemental vitamin A. With therapy, the serum concentrations of vitamin A, retinol-binding protein (RBP), and prealbumin (PA) all increased significantly as did the concentrations of serum albumin and total protein and the creatinine-height index (CHI). The levels of vitamin A, RBP, and PA were highly significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.001) over the wide concentration range observed during treatment, suggesting that the RBP holo-protein and PA were similarly influenced by the nutritional therapy. The serum concentrations of vitamin A, RBP, and PA failed to correlate with the concentration of serum albumin or with the CHI. Whereas the concentrations of serum albumin and total protein and the CHI rose progressively in most patients throughout the period of therapy, the vitamin A, RBP, and PA concentrations generally rose to a maximum at approximately days 20 to 40, then decreased by days 60 to 90. Factors in addition to the availability of amino acid and protein substrate influence serum retinol transport in protein-calorie malnutrition.

El riesgo en la formación de niñas y niños centroamericanos migrantes

Este artículo se enfoca a la migración infantil centroamericana no acompañada que se desplaza por el municipio de Tenosique, Tabasco, en México. Partimos del supuesto que estas niñas, niños y adolescentes se insertan en los procesos migratorios precedidos por los adultos, aprendiendo en condiciones de riesgo e incertidumbre a vivir en la informalidad. El propósito de este estudio, es identificar la relación entre formación y riesgo. Para ello, realizamos un estudio de tipo cualitativo. Diseñamos un plan de trabajo en el Módulo de Atención a menores en tránsito sin acompañamiento del municipio de Tenosique. Y concluimos que estas niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes, desde sus lugares de origen, han carecido de los derechos humanos fundamentales que les garanticen bienestar y permanencia en la escuela. De tal manera, cuando migran aprenden en la informalidad y el riesgo, sin que los gobiernos de los países regionales (tanto de origen, como de tránsito y destino) creen las condiciones necesarias para garantizarles el derecho a la reunificación familiar, a la educación y a la protección.