Introduction:

Fetal malnutrition impacts in a negative way the growth and development, thus affecting the craniofacial structures of the fetus.

Objective:

To determine the effects of fetal malnutrition by defect on craniofacial growth and development in children.

Methods:

An analytical case and control study was carried out in Jose Martí health area of Camagüey, from January 2018 to December 2020. A sample of 40 was selected from the totality of the children between 6 and 11 years old who belong to the referred health area, to be divided into 20 cases and the same number in the control group. The study group was composed of those low birth weight who present craniofacial abnormalities while control group included the children without craniofacial abnormalities and normal weight at birth. Anthropometric craniofacial measurements were performed on all the sample.

Results:

The head circumference at birth in male children of control group was 0.78 cm higher than that on female sex. Among those low birth weight, male children exhibited 1.57 cm higher than females. Regarding the bizygomatic diameter there was a strong statistic association and the relative risk indicated a higher incidence on the study group compared to the control group (p <0.05).

Conclusions:

Low birth weight children show lower craniofacial growth and development, with higher impact on females according to anthropometric variables.

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