HISTORY AND DESIGN OF THE INCAP LONGITUDINAL-STUDY (1969-77) AND ITS FOLLOW-UP (1988-89)

This is an overview of the design and methods of the INCAP longitudina l study (1969-77) and its follow-up study (1988-89), The first study h ad the objective of assessing the effects of intrauterine and preschoo l malnutrition on growth and mental development, To achieve this, food supplements were provided to pregnant women and young children residi ng in four Guatemalan villages. Two villages were given a high-protein , high-energy drink and two were provided a no-protein, low-energy dri nk, Both supplements contained vitamins and minerals. Longitudinal inf ormation was collected during the first seven years of life on physica l growth, mental development, attendance and consumption of supplement , home diet, morbidity and on characteristics of the family, Health an d nutrition data on mothers also were collected. The INCAP followup st udy was a cross-sectional evaluation of former participants of the fir st study and was carried out when the subjects were 11-27 y old. The h ypothesis of the INCAP follow-up study was that improved nutrition in early childhood leads to enhanced human capital formation in adolescen ts and adults, Data were collected on physical growth and body composi tion, maturation, work capacity, intellectual performance and school a chievement.