The children of Santa María Cauqué

Abstract: A nine year study of 45 Mayan children in a small highland village in Guatemala is reported. Studied were the microbiological and general health status of the children from fetal life to school age as affected by cultural and environmental events. The role of nutrition and infection is discussed. Specific aspects reported are foundations of the study; the village and its people; operational procedures and approach; operational procedures and analysis of data; and results concerning maternal environment, the newborn infant, maternal factors and fetal growth, survival, growth and development in infancy and early childhood, feeding practices, infection and colonization of the intestine, diseases and disabilities, malnutrition, and multivariate analysis of physical growth. Recommendations are provided.