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BMC Pediatrics
Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Study protocol

Early nutrition, growth and cognitive development of infants from birth to 2 years in Malaysia: a study protocol

Authors: Abdul Razak Nurliyana, Zalilah Mohd Shariff, Mohd Nasir Mohd Taib, Wan Ying Gan, Kit-Aun Tan

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The first 2 years of life is a critical period of rapid growth and brain development. During this period, nutrition and environmental factors play important roles in growth and cognitive development of a child. This report describes the study protocol of early nutrition, growth and cognitive development of infants from birth to 2 years of age.

Methods/Design

This is a prospective cohort study of mothers and infants recruited from government health clinics in Seremban district in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Infants are followed-up at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Pre-natal factors that include mother’s pre-pregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain, blood glucose and blood pressure during pregnancy, infant’s gestational age, birth weight and head circumference at birth are obtained from patient card. Post-natal factors assessed at each follow-up are feeding practices, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and cognitive development of infants. Iron status is assessed at 6 months, while infant temperament and home environment are assessed at 12 months. Maternal intelligence is assessed at 18 months.

Discussion

Early life nutritional programming is of current interest as many longitudinal studies are actively being conducted in developed countries to investigate this concept. The concept however is relatively new in developing countries such as Malaysia. This study will provide useful information on early nutrition and infant development in the first two years of life which can be further followed up to identify factors that track into childhood and contribute to growth and cognitive deviations.
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Metadata
Title
Early nutrition, growth and cognitive development of infants from birth to 2 years in Malaysia: a study protocol
Authors
Abdul Razak Nurliyana
Zalilah Mohd Shariff
Mohd Nasir Mohd Taib
Wan Ying Gan
Kit-Aun Tan
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0700-0

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