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Maternal Health, Breast‐Feeding and Infant Nutrition in Australian Aborigines
Author(s) -
Gracey Michael
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1989.tb01321.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , incidence (geometry) , breast feeding , pediatrics , low birth weight , environmental health , pregnancy , physics , pathology , biology , optics , genetics
Undernutrition is widespread in Australian Aboriginal infants and children and is associated with high rates of infections, particularly of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. Maternal ill health and under nutrition seem to be neglected factors which contribute to the high incidence of low birth weight in Aboriginal babies and to their poor growth in the first five years of life. More effective preventive programmes are needed to help overcome these problems.