Resumen Introducción. Según estimaciones mundiales de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para el 2017, el 9,6 % de los niños menores de cinco años padecen retraso del crecimiento. La evidencia mundial ha demostrado que las acciones para prevenir el retardo del crecimiento o para tratarlo adquieren relevancia si las abordan todos los sectores involucrados. Por lo tanto, es necesario determinar las acciones intersectoriales para atender el riesgo de retraso del crecimiento durante el embarazo y los dos primeros años de vida. Objetivo. Rastrear y describir la evidencia mundial para la prevención, las intervenciones nutricionales y los esfuerzos de colaboración intersectorial contra el retraso del crecimiento en los lactantes. Materiales y métodos: Se hizo una revisión sistemática en el 2019 (PROSPERO CRD42019134431). La búsqueda incluyó PubMed, OVID y Web of Science, así como documentos oficiales de la OMS y la Organización para la Agricultura y la Alimentación de Naciones Unidas (FAO) y recomendaciones de expertos. Resultados. Se seleccionó un total de 231 estudios: 86,1 % describían factores relacionados con la prevención, 30,7 %, intervenciones nutricionales, y 52,8 %, esfuerzos de colaboración intersectorial; 36,4 % de ellos se llevaron a cabo en múltiples regiones. Del total, el 61 % de los estudios se enfocaba en la importancia de las intervenciones durante el embarazo, el 71,9 % desde el nacimiento hasta los seis meses y el 84,8 % desde los seis meses hasta los dos años. Las variables descritas con mayor frecuencia fueron la atención prenatal, el asesoramiento nutricional para la madre y el recién nacido, y el asesoramiento sobre la suplementación con micronutrientes. Conclusiones. La comprensión basada en la evidencia de las acciones orientadas a monitorear el riesgo de factores asociados al retraso del crecimiento desde el embarazo hasta los dos años, es fundamental.

Abstract Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO) global estimates for 2017, 9.6% of children under 5 years old are stunted. Worldwide evidence shows that actions for preventing stunting and catching-up growth are relevant if addressed by all the sectors involved. Therefore, there is a need to identify 'intersectoral actions' to address the risk of stunting during pregnancy and the first 2 years of life. Objective: To identify and describe worldwide evidence for prevention, nutritional interventions, and 'intersectoral collaboration' efforts against stunting in infants. Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review in 2019 (PROSPERO CRD42019134431). The search included PubMed, OVID, and Web of Science, as well as WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) official documents and expert recommendations. Results: We selected 231 studies: 86.1% described prevention-related factors, 30.7%, nutritional interventions, and 52.8% intersectoral collaboration efforts; 36.4% of the studies were conducted in multiple regions; 61% of the studies described the importance of interventions during pregnancy, 71.9% from birth up to 6 months old, and 84.8% from 6 months up to 2 years old. The most frequent variables described were antenatal care, nutritional counseling for the mother and the newborn, and counseling on micronutrient supplementation. Conclusions: Evidence-based understanding of actions geared towards monitoring the risk of stunting-associated factors from pregnancy up to 2 years old is critical.

Resumo Projetos governamentais de educação em saúde propostos por governos liberais da Colômbia (1930-1946) enfrentaram não apenas a pobreza das populações rurais, mas também a relutância de forças políticas. Analiso os programas de educação em saúde durante os dois primeiros governos da República Liberal. Argumento que os programas de saúde pública não alcançaram o público alvo por causa de clientelismo local e corrupção política. As fontes deste artigo foram, principalmente, relatórios do Ministério da Educação da Colômbia e revistas culturais. O setor da edução teve responsabilidades relacionadas à saúde e desenvolveu avaliações das necessidades locais, que contribuíram para programas de saúde pública. A historiografia da saúde pública na América Latina poderia se beneficiar se explorasse as falhas na implementação de projetos de medicina social.

Abstract Ambitious state hygiene education projects designed during liberal governments in Colombia (1930-1946) faced not just the poverty of rural populations, but also the reluctance of local political forces. I analyze hygiene education programs during the first two liberal governments of the Liberal Republic. I argue that public health programs did not reach their audience due to local clientelism and political corruption. The sources of this article come mainly from Colombia’s Ministry of Education reports and cultural magazines. The education sector also had health-related responsibilities and developed assessments of local needs, which contributed to public health programs. Latin America’s public health historiography could be enriched by exploring failures in the implementation of projects in the history of social medicine.