Maternal and childhood nutrition among Aborigines of the Kimberley region.

A cross-sectional anthropometric survey of 128 Aboriginal children under five years of age and of 388 Aboriginal girls and women of child-bearing age was undertaken in seven communities in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. More than 20% of the children were undernourished, three individuals severely so. All but one of those who were undernourished were over 12 months of age. Less than 60% of the female subjects of child-bearing age had a satisfactory nutritional status; one-sixth were undernourished and one-quarter, mostly older women, were overweight. The findings indicate that poor nutrition is widespread among Aboriginal female subjects of child-bearing age. Maternal malnutrition may contribute significantly to unsatisfactory nutrition and health in Aboriginal infants and young children.