ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the first 1,000 days of life as a critical window for the improvement of child growth and development. More recently, the preconception period has also been recognized as crucial, especially in populations where there are high levels of undernutrition. Pregnancy and lactation are critical periods characterized by increased growth and development which, in turn, greatly increase requirements for energy, protein, calcium, essential fatty acids, and several micronutrients, such as iron, folic acid, and vitamin A. Women who acquire a "persistent" infection during their previous pregnancy followed by a short birth interval may be at a higher risk of still being infected. Another proposed mechanism posits that inflammatory processes present during a pregnancy may be carried over to the subsequent pregnancy, especially if they are in close succession. Dewey et al. reviewed data from 52 studies, and found overall that longer birth intervals were associated with a reduced risk of malnutrition.
