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Biomedical subjects

R J Moy

Publications and source records attributed to R J Moy.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Recurrent and persistent diarrhoea in a rural Zimbabwean community: a prospective study.

Prospective surveillance of patterns of diarrhoeal disease was conducted in a cohort of 204 young children living in a rural community in Zimbabwe. Trained field assistants recorded morbidity data obtained by weekly recall of mothers. Diarrhoea was defined by a commonly used local word, and a diarrhoea-free gap of three or more days was taken to signify a new attack. Diarrhoea was common in this study population with a peak incidence between 6 and 18 months of age. There was, however, wide individual variability in diarrhoea attack rates (range 0 to 20 attacks) during the 22 month study period. Whilst only 6 per cent of the recorded diarrhoea episodes were persistent (lasting longer than 14 days), a high proportion (26 per cent) of subjects had at least one attack of persistent diarrhoea (PD) during follow up. Children who had frequent attacks of acute diarrhoea also tended to have PD; PD was rare in those with few attacks. Thus, within this uniformly deprived African community, there were individuals who had a much higher susceptibility to diarrhoea compared to others. An understanding of this variability may point the way towards more effective interventions in the control of diarrhoeal disease.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

Early growth faltering in rural Zimbabwean children.

Longitudinal data on weight and height were collected during the first 30 months of life from children living in a deprived rural community in Zimbabwe. All were breast-fed for up to a mean of 21 months; maize porridge being introduced from three months onwards. During the first 6 months, growth was similar to, or even exceeded, that of the NCHS reference population. Thereafter, growth faltering was common. By the age of 30 months, there was a mean deficit in weight of 2,0 kg in girls and 2,3 kg in boys, and a mean deficit in height of 8 cm in boys and 9 cm in girls. No seasonal variation in growth pattern was found. The substantially better growth of more privileged children in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in Africa, would suggest that these children were failing to realise their full genetic potential for growth because of adverse environmental factors.

Body Height↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risk factors for high diarrhoea frequency: a study in rural Zimbabwe.

Diarrhoea morbidity data were collected prospectively over 22 months from a cohort of young children living in a deprived community in rural Zimbabwe. Despite the general high prevalence of diarrhoeal disease, there was considerable individual variability in attack rates. Risk factors associated with high diarrhoea frequency were therefore sought by a questionnaire study on feeding, environmental, educational and socio-economic factors. This was supported by observation of living conditions, and water and sanitation facilities. Surprisingly, no association was found between diarrhoeal morbidity and any of these factors, suggesting that other factors such as individual hygiene behaviour or individual susceptibility to diarrhoea may play a role in determining the observed differences in diarrhoea rates in this community.

Diarrhea, Infantile↗