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Biomedical subjects

E Atalah

Publications and source records attributed to E Atalah.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

[Infantile malnutrition: social cost of respiratory and digestive pathology].

Information from the hospital records of 1,660 children under two years of age admitted to the Hospital Roberto del Río (Northern District of Santiago) during 1979, allowed carrying out an analysis of the effect of malnutrition upon the admission rate and length of stay for diarrhea and respiratory infections. The following indexes were calculated and related to nutritional status: a) Admission rate for the total population of children under two years of age from the Northern District of Santiago; b) frequency of associated and intercurrent pathology, and c) length of stay. The three indexes evidenced a clear relationship with nutritional status (P much less than 0.01), showing a progressive deterioration as the relationship weight/age became impaired. The admission rate for diarrhea was nine times higher, and the length of stay 16.9% higher (P less than 0.001) in children with mild malnutrition as compared with normal patients. For respiratory infections the rates were 2.4 and 24.7% higher (P less than 0.001) in malnourished patients than in normals. The excess of admission rate for diarrhea and respiratory pathology, conditioned by malnutrition in the Northern District of Santiago, was estimated as the cost equivalent to 10,609 extra days of stay, with an annual cost above US$300,000. The investment of such an amount of money in health promotion and protection activities would certainly increase its social cost-effectiveness.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗
PubMed1983

[Social cost effectiveness of 2 systems of treatment of malnourished children, in Chile].

Two approaches in the care of malnourished children were evaluated in order to ascertain both their medical and economical effectiveness. One was a group of 745 children under an ambulatory nutritional rehabilitation program that included health care, supplementary foods and nutrition education; a second group of 420 children attended Day Care Centers (8 hours a day and five days per week) where they received a balanced diet, psychomotor stimulation according to age, and health care. The evolution of nutritional status was followed up and plotted against the NCHS/WHO weight-for-height tables. The rate of recovery was unsatisfactory; below 50% in mild cases of malnutrition, and even less in the more severe cases. The average length of time for attaining normality was longer for moderate malnutrition and for the ambulatory program. When the calculation included a correction for the probability of recovery for each system, the advantage of the Day Care Centers became even more evident: the mean length of time for recovery was 33.2% less than the ambulatory program. The social cost per child, per day, was substantially lower in the ambulatory program. The integral calculus of social cost per child, per day, and the corrected mean time for recovery provided the social cost-effectiveness of nutritional recovery. This figure was clearly adventageous for the ambulatory program for all ages and degrees of malnutrition, exception made for moderately malnourished children below two years of age. In this case, the Day Care Centers appeared to be the most effective therapeutic alternative. This type of analysis is a contribution to the evaluation of medico-social programs for the recuperation of malnutrition. The advantage lies in the fact that it allows an optimization in the allocation of resources, when the previous step is the choice of best therapeutic alternative based upon the patient's age and nutritional status.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1983

[Effect of lactation on the weight and body composition of wet nurses].

In order to assess the impact of lactation on the nutritional status and body composition of mothers, 134 women were followed up during a period of six months (95 were exclusively breast-feeding and 39 were bottle-feeding their babies). Their weight was measured at monthly intervals, and mid-arm circumference, skinfold thickness and food intake were determined at two and six months, respectively, as well as food intake by the 24-hour recall method. Both groups evidenced similar non significant and slight changes in weight and body composition. Only 10% of mothers showed weight losses above 4 kg; weight loss was significantly higher in overweight and obese women as compared to underweight and normal mothers. Both arm circumference and total fat (sum of skinfolds thickness) followed the same trend. Dietary intake revealed to be deficient in calories, protein, calcium, iron and vitamin A when compared to the FAO/WHO standards. Given the excellent growth curves of the children as well as the minimal changes observed in maternal nutrition and body composition, it may be assumed that the current recommended dietary allowances (FAO/WHO) are overestimated for a population of the type studied.

Body Composition↗
PubMed1982

[Chemical composition of human milk. Influence of the nutritional status of the nursing mother].

The chemical composition of human milk obtained from 16 underweight women and 25 controls collected at four, eight and 12 weeks of lactation, was determined in order to assess the effect of maternal nutrition upon milk quality. No meaningful differences were observed for protein, lactose, energy, calcium, iron and copper contents. The values obtained are comparable to those reported in the literature from developed countries. As to Zn content, both groups exhibited decreased values with time, with significant higher values for the controls at the 12th week of observation. Magnesium showed exactly the opposite behavior. On the basis of the present study, it is concluded that maternal nutrition does not condition important changes in the chemical composition of human milk. The authors propose the application of comparable methodologic and analytical criteria, in order to achieve a more complete understanding of the relationships between maternal nutrition and lactation.

Calcium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Growth, acceptance, and tolerance with a new milk formula].

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of a modified cow's milk formula on growth, tolerance and acceptability, which was studied in 2,097 infants selected from those controlled in primary health centers at Santiago, Chile: 1,119 were fed a modified cow's milk formula (LPM), while an unmodified powdered cow's milk (LP) was given to 978 controls of the same age and conditions, as well as solid foods after 4 months of age. Both experimental and control groups were followed along a 4 months period for records of anthropometric data, morbidity, acceptability and tolerance for LP and LPM. We did not find significant differences in growth (values ranging 95 to 100% of NCHS standards W/A or H/A). A slightly higher energy intake and lower protein intake was observed with LPM. Gastrointestinal symptoms were infrequently seen and of similar frequency and character in both 0 to 4 month old groups (4.3% with LPM vs. 5.3% with LP at first control). These gastrointestinal signs were more frequently recorded under LPM than with LP in the 8 to 12 months old group only at first control (colics 8% vs. 4% p < 0.01 and abnormal stools 9.4% vs. 5.5% p < 0.01). Acute acceptability expressed as percentage withdrawal from study was not significantly lower with LPM than LP (5 to 15% vs. 2% N.S.). The proposed modified formula seems to be a good alternative to powdered cow's milk for infants.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of the Program of the Feeding and Language Stimulation Centers in 3 Chilean regions].

To evaluate the effect of attendance to a non traditional day care center ("CADEL") on physical and psychomotor development, 366 children aged 2-5 years belonging to 22 centers were studied. Weight and height were measured at 0, 4 and 8 months and weight for age, height for age and weight for height indexes were calculated from WHO/NCHS standards. Psychomotor development at the beginning of the study and 8 months latter through a standard test (TEPSI) was evaluated. Mean weight and height monthly increments were 144 +/- 83 g and 0.54 +/- 0.16 cm, 72 and 90% respectively of normal growth. Protein energy malnutrition prevalence (30.8%) was not modified but subnormal values of psychomotor development (40.9%) decreased during the study (p less than 0.05 global, coordination and motor function). Language retardation did not improve with the attendance to the program. These centers represent low cost alternatives to extended coverage of preschool services for low income families. More active family integration and reinforcement of stimulation and educational activities may improve program effectiveness.

Child Day Care Centers↗