Contexts of occurrence of child malnutrition in the district of Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina. A multivariate analysis

Abstract

The analysis of nutritional status is anthropologically important to address the complex interaction of biological, social, political, economic and cultural factors. To deepen the knowledge about contexts of occurrence of child malnutrition, we analyzed nutritional status in relation to socio-environmental conditions of residence in children between three and six years from Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina. We performed a cross-sectional study of 1,435 school children of both sexes. Body weight and height were measured and prevalence of low height/age (LH/A), low weight/age (LW/A), low BMI/age (LBMI/A), overweight (Ow) and obesity (Ob) was calculated using World Health Organization reference charts. Socio-environmental information was obtained through a semi-structured survey and processed by Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA). Anthropometric data showed 1.5% LW/A, 5.2% LH/A; 0.6% LBMI/A, 20.9% Ow and 10.9% Ob. CatPCA allowed us to define four groups (G1-G4) with better (G2), middle (G1) and worst (G4) urban socio-environmental conditions and one with rural characteristics (G3). G4 presented the highest LH/A prevalence and G2 the highest Ow and Ob prevalence (P<0.05). It is concluded that since the distribution of malnutrition was not even it may dependent on the context in which children grow up. Thus, the higher the socio-economic level, the higher the incidence of overweight and obesity. Conversely, at the other end of the social scale, undernutrition and increasing weight excess remained major health problems.

Prevalence and associated factors of underweight among children 6–59 months of age in Takusa district, Northwest Ethiopia

“…Moreover, access to fruit and vegetables, and dairy products among urban dwellers might be the other factors for the differences in underweight rates [ 8 ]. In addition, most rural mothers spent their time in fields engaged farming activities and couldn’t offer a 24-h breastfeeding instead they provided only the usual food items which wouldn’t substitute the expected benefits [ 16 , 22 ].…”

“…Lack of dietary diversity and micronutrient-dense food consumption and poor child feeding practices contribute to the high rate of child under nutrition. Various reports also indicate that underweight in children is mainly caused by inadequate food intake [ 7 , 8 ], repeated infections [ 9 – 11 ], low parental education [ 12 – 14 ], lack of sanitation [ 15 ], poor feeding practices [ 16 ], no ANC [ 17 – 19 ], residence [ 20 ], child rearing practices [ 21 ], economic [ 21 , 22 ], social, and cultural factors [ 23 ].…”

Extended composite index of anthropometric failure in Argentinean preschool and school children

“…In fact, in Latin American countries, the coexistence of stunting and excess weight is a topic that was addressed at the beginning of this century (19,20) . This issue, known as obesity in poverty, is emerging in nutritional transition and developed countries (21)(22)(23) , such as Argentina, where this process has been studied (24)(25)(26)(27) . In addition, it is relevant to point out that Svedberg (28) , like Nandy and Svedberg (10) , emphasized the relevance of including overweight and obesity to complete the information provided by the CIAF.…”

Estudio comparativo del estado nutricional de niños y niñas residentes en cuatro partidos de la provincia de Buenos Aires (Argentina), en el marco de la transición nutricional

“…Con relación a ello, en un estudio multicéntrico publicado en 2008 se registró una distribución clinal de la malnutrición infanto-juvenil, en el que las mayores prevalencias de desnutrición correspondían a las provincias del norte y las de sobrepeso y obesidad a las del sur (12) . Posteriormente, otros estudios nacionales dieron cuenta de que, en ciertos sectores de la población, las deficiencias nutricionales traducidas, principalmente, en desnutrición de tipo crónica y carencias de nutrientes específicos eran un problema vigente, aun cuando el sobrepeso y la obesidad habían adquirido una relevancia insospechada (13,14,15,16,17) .…”