Present day epidemiology of severe protein-energy malnutrition in Nigeria

Extract: Eighty-eight patients with severe protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) admitted into the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria over a 9-month period were studied to define the patterns and factors encountered currently in PEM. Severe PEM now occurs predominantly in the 6- to 18-month age group, which is earlier than was reported previously. The majority of the parents were Yoruba Christians and were low-income workers or unemployed. Poverty was a factor in 54.5%. Most of the parents were literate. About half of the families were polygamous. The prevalence of social problems was high, with 72.7% of the parents living apart. Attacks of measles and recurrent or prolonged gastroenteritis were preceding precipitating factors in 30.7% and 33% of the patients, respectively. Failure or cessation of breast-feeding or bottle-feeding with cow's milk from the first month of life preceeded the development of PEM in a large percentage of patients. The implications of these findings are disscussed. (author)