Longitudinal studies on the effects of malnutrition, nutritional supplementation, and behavioral stimulation.

Six major Western Hemisphere longitudinal studies of malnutrition and development are in their final stages. These studies are taking place in Columbia, Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States. As a step toward synthesis of the results, a conference was held at Cali, Colombia, with the aim of clarifying differences and similarities. The following features of each study were considered: The starting and completion dates; the research design (including scheduled periods of observation and the presence or absence of nutritional supplements and/or stimulation); the populations involved, their home diets, and the specific supplements and stimulation received; procedures and measurements used in the study; and any general conclusions reached. The conference also identified opportunities and needs for exchange of information between projects and for a collaborative approach to such specific problems and topics as birth-weight, physical growth, and behavioral development.