• S N van der Crabben, H S Heymans, A A van Kempen, R Holman, and H P Sauerwein.
• Afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam. s.n.vandercrabben@amc.uva.nl
• Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2004 May 29; 148 (22): 1093-7.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the increase in the percentage of stunted growth in Bush Negro infants in the interior of Surinam is related to an absolute food (i.e. energy) shortage or to a shortage of protein.DesignDescriptive.MethodIn the villages of Dan and Botopasi, children aged 2-5 years from two schools and their mothers were examined. Growth during the first year of life, duration of breastfeeding, age of introduction of and composition of complementary feeding and current nutritional status of mother and child were determined.ResultsSixteen children and their mothers were included. Compared to the Dutch growth charts, birth weight was significantly lower (p = 0.03). After the age of 6 months there was a significant dropping off in weight gain (p = 0.018). Five of the 16 children received protein-poor complementary feeding, which did not lead to catch-up growth. Between the ages of 2-5, 6 of the 16 children showed stunted growth but none of the children or their mothers was wasted. Five of the 16 mothers had a body mass index > 25.ConclusionThe nutritional status of the mothers showed that there was no absolute shortage of energy. The protein content coming from the complementary food for the Bush Negroes in our research group was below recommended levels. Stunted growth in these children is better explained by a shortage of well-balanced complementary feeding rather than by an absolute shortage of energy. Education about food recommendations for the young child is of great importance in the prevention of chronic malnutrition.

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