Abstract

Author(s): Guamialamá Martínez, Jaime; Salazar Duque, Diego; Portugal Morejón, Carolina; Lala Gualotuña, Karla

Objective: to evaluate the nutritional conditions of children under five years old through anthropometric variables in the parish of Pifo.

Methodology: Descriptive, transversal research cut in 609 children from zero to five-year-old that regularly come to the health center in Pifo; 50,7% male and 49,3% female. Research period: July through November 2018. Variables used: average, standard deviation and a comparative analysis by genre.

Results: Significant findings were a prevalence of chronic, global and severe malnutrition in 15,8%, 4,6%, and 2,0% respectively, overweight 4,3%, and obesity 1,2%, which were more severe in male, 19,4% versus 12,0% in chronic malnutrition, 6,0% versus 3% in global malnutrition, 2,6% versus 1,3% in severe malnutrition in female, overweight and obesity in 5,5% versus 5,3% in female.

Conclusion: Children nutritional status of the parish of Pifo is under the average of the national indicators registered by the National Health and Nutrition survey, 2012: 9,5% less in chronic malnutrition (25,3%), 1,8% less in global malnutrition (6,4%), and 0,4% less in severe malnutrition. Overweight and obesity: 3,1% less compared to ENSANUT, 2012 (8,6%).