Infection and Low Birth Weight in a Developing Country

Abstract

The causes of fetal growth retardation and premature delivery are not well defined. Although diet, smoking, maternal weight and height, and social class can be correlated with the size of the fetus, the relative contribution of other factors to fetal growth has not been clarified. Among such factors in developing countries, the highly prevalent infectious diseases occupy a prominent place. This report summarizes studies of the frequency of infections in pregnant women and discusses their possible influence on intrauterine growth. From the Division of Environmental Biology, Institute of Nutrition of Centrai America and Panama, Guatemala City (Drs. Urrutla and Mato, Messrs. Trent and Cruz, and Ms. Villatore), and the Department of Epidemiology and International Health, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr. Alexander). Dr. Mata Is now with the University of Costa Rica, Guadalupe. Reprint requests to Division of Environmental Biology, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America (Dr. Urrutia).