Malnutrition: A Closer Look at the Problem in an East African Village

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Abstract
Assessments were made of 20 severely malnourished children under 3 yr of age in a relatively prosperous village in East Africa. These included medical, perinatal, social, economic and behavioral/developmental histories, as well as physical and developmental evaluations. The findings are presented in relation to data from a longitudinal study of child development from this same site and from large nutrition surveys of the same area. The specific historical factors and behavioral profiles occurring with high frequency among the malnourished children are discussed. They suggest a common etiology with other disorders of attachment, child abuse, nonorganic failure to thrive and the vulnerable child syndrome. These commonalities are explored, and possible mechanisms in the emergence of bonding failuire are considered.