{
  "abstract": "Objectives In rural communities of Guatemala, infants with cleft lip and palate face a high risk of malnutrition, mortality, and developmental delay. Inadequate nutrition prevents them from being eligible for corrective surgery, which is essential to improve health and development. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a program designed to optimize growth, surgical eligibility, and child development.Methods From January to August 2025, a total of 184 infants across 14 departments received 908 home visits conducted by community health workers. The intervention included growth monitoring, counseling in Mayan languages, early stimulation, basic speech therapy exercises, nutritional supplementation, specialized feeding bottles, breast pumps, and lip taping. Data were recorded in a digital platform, enabling real-time follow-up.Results Fifty-two percent of infants achieved adequate weight and height for surgery. The prevalence of growth retardation decreased by 7.6%, reflecting linear improvement and a favorable prognosis for cognitive development. Among infants older than 6 months, 96.6% had started complementary feeding before 9 months of age. Caregiver counseling was associated with better nutritional outcomes, greater surgical readiness, and progress in early stimulation. A total of 125 speech therapy workshops were conducted to prevent compensatory patterns and strengthen home communication.Conclusions The program represents a comprehensive intervention for child health and development among children with cleft lip and palate. The combination of nutritional support and counseling in Mayan languages enhances early development and lays the foundation for school readiness. This model is replicable and culturally appropriate for vulnerable settings.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Partner for Surgery | Asociación Compañero para Cirugía, San Lucas, Guatemala"
      ],
      "name": "Alejandra Pinzón"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Partner for Surgery | Asociación Compañero para Cirugía, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala"
      ],
      "name": "Emily López"
    }
  ],
  "title": "223 Nutrition program for cleft lip and palate improves surgical eligibility and child development in rural Guatemala",
  "uid": "645e5408-11f2-5665-b8d6-0e5bab844070"
}