Growth of Infants and Preschool Children in St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, West Indies

Abstract

Mean weights at various age intervals were calculated for Negro infants born in 1957 and 1958 and weighed frequently until five years old at clinics on the islands of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla in the West Indies. Compared with English and American infants, the rate of weight increase was less from the fourth to the twelfth month of life, and similar thereafter. This pattern probably reflects the tendency to reduce breastfeeding in response to social and economic pressures. Supplementary feeding is also inadequate although it has improved somewhat as a result of education and the free distribution of milk.