Socioenvironmental conditions and nutritional status in urban and rural schoolchildren

Abstract

We analyzed the nutritional status of urban and rural schoolchildren from Mendoza (Argentina), but avoided rural and urban categorization by generating subpopulations as a function of their socioenvironmental characteristics. We transformed weight and height data into z-scores using the CDC/NCHS growth charts; defined underweight, stunting, and wasting by z-scores of less than -2 SD; and calculated overweight and obesity, according to the cutoff proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. Socioenvironmental characteristics included housing, public services, parental resources, and farming practices; we processed these variables by categorical principal-component analysis. The two first axes defined four subgroups of schoolchildren: three of these were associated with urban characteristics, while the remaining subgroup was considered rural. Nutritional status differed across groups, whereas overweight was similar among the groups and obesity higher in urban middle-income children. Urban differences were manifested mainly as underweight, but rural children exhibited the greatest stunting and wasting. Thus, the negative effects of environment on nutritional status in children are not restricted to poor periurban and rural areas, though these are indeed unfavorable environments for growth: some urban families provide children with sufficient quantity and diversity of foods to expose them to obesity. By contrast, the more affluent urban families would appear to have greater possibilities for allowing their children to adopt a healthy life-style. Although the causes of differences in nutritional status between middle- and high-income urban groups are not clear, these determinants probably involve economic as well as educational influences.

The association between urban or rural locality and hip fracture in community-based adults: a systematic review

“…Although the present study was unable to address this issue directly, some studies have attempted to examine a dose–response relationship between the length of time residing in urban or rural regions and an increased risk of fracture 41 49 53. Younger adults have also been shown to migrate towards urban regions to access increase increased opportunities for employment and socialisation 77. This age-related shift may confound analyses that do not account for the length of time residing in one region compared with another.…”

Ruralidad y estado nutricional. Un estudio en la población de Magdalena (provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina)

“…Se observaron claras diferencias respecto a la calidad socio-ambiental de residencia por cuanto, aun cuando las familias compartían en la "ruralidad" espacios geográficos cercanos, se distinguieron dos sub-poblaciones o agrupamientos (Grupos 1 y 2). Este resultado confirma la existencia de heterogeneidad socio-ambiental, coincidiendo con lo observado en trabajos previos (Oyhenart et al, 2008a;Garraza et al, 2016).…”

“…Se consideraron, además, aspectos vinculados con la familia: presencia de hacinamiento crítico [más de tres individuos por cuarto (INDEC, 2016)]-nivel educativo y tipo de empleo de los padres, cobertura de salud y -situación socio-económica familiar. Dicha situación fue valorada también por las ayudas monetaria y/o alimentaria a cargo del Estado u otros organismos no gubernamentales, o las prácticas de autoproducción de alimentos (Oyhenart et al, 2008a). Para caracterizar a la población fueron calculadas frecuencias de cada variable socio-ambiental y se realizó un análisis de componentes principales categórico (ACPcat).…”

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

“…Animal husbandry and orchard were also considered. Other aspects related to family comfort were also taken into account, such as car ownership, internet access, computer and air conditioning [40]. …”