Socioeconomic and Productive Disparity in Child Stunting in the Central Andes of Peru, Taking as a Model the Community of Tunanmarca, Jauja

Abstract

The differences of stunting through socio-economic and productive indicators in high Andean community of Peru were evaluated (11°42′58.16″ S, 75°37′31.13″ W, altitude 3470 m). Cross-sectional study in 52 mothers with children under 5 years old was carried. A validated nutritional survey was applied. Z-scores height for age and nutritional status were determined using anthropometric methods and WHO criteria. The prevalence of stunting was evaluated by maternal educational level, food and health practices, economic level and family food production. Chi-square tests and Spearman correlations were performed in order to establish associations to P <0.05. Prevalence of stunting was 44.2%. The factors associated with stunting (P <0.05) were: Do not use gas for cooking (r=0.530), weekly economic income <50.00 dollars (r=0.503), weekly expenditure on family food <31.00 dollars (r=0.648), per capita / day expenditure on food <1.10 dollars (r=0.591), mother without studies (r=0.454), no own home ownership (r=0.413), consumption of food before 6 months old (r=0.410), low frequency of quinoa consumption (r=0.423), and fish (r=0.421), presence of childhood anemia (r=0.407); inadequate venting of smoke in the kitchen (r=0.491), not having soap for personal hygiene (r=0.413) and not having a bathroom (r=0.413). Stunting is associated with various socioeconomic, productive and access factors to food. These results demonstrate socio-economic and productive disparities for stunting in rural high Andean areas of central Peru, taking as a model the community of Tunanmarca in Jauja.

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“…The variables analyzed were limited to those provided by the survey. The analytical results cannot explain several other variables that have been identified from previous studies to affect stunting in children under five, including antenatal care, maternal stature, maternal body mass index, wealth index, diarrhoea, anaemia, and agri-food [52][53][54][55].…”

Stunting among children under two years in Indonesia: Does maternal education matter?

“…The variables analyzed were limited to those offered by the survey. The analysis results cannot explain several other variables that have been known from previous studies to affect stunting in children under two years: antenatal care, maternal stature, maternal body mass index, wealth index, diarrhea, anemia, and agri-food [ 40 , 46 – 48 ].…”