Growth and Development of Children Living in Incarceration Environments of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

ABSTRACT Objectives The objective of this study was to examine nutritional status, psychomotor and socioemotional development of children living with mothers in prison in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Materials and methods Sex, age, weight and height were measured in children (37) residents with their mothers (28) in the Criminal Unit No. 33 of the SPB. Nutritional indicators were calculated and analyzed according to the WHO international reference (2006). National Research Test (PRUNAPE) and the parental questionnaire Ages and Stages Questionnaires: SocioEmotional®, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) were applied to evaluate development. Results Anthropometric evaluation showed that 7% of children under 2 years presented low weight, 3% alert of low weight, 28% high weight and 14% low height. Children over 2 years of age showed 37.5% of high weight and 25% of risk of overweight. There were no children with short stature. PRUNAPE and ASQ:SE-2 tests: in the 30 cases that completed both tests more than half (53.3%) obtained scores within the expected. In the group of children with both tests who did not pass the PRUNAPE (n= 9), the result found in the ASQ-SE 2 was diverse: 66.6% is within the expectations and 33.3% at risk. Neither of children with both tests that did not pass the ASQ:SE-2, passed the PRUNAPE. Conclusion There were high prevalences of excess weight and high percentages of risk in psychomotor development, considerably higher than in the general population. There is a need to carry out actions to reduce the harmful effect of childhood confinement.