Abstract
Introduction: Pediatric malnutrition is an actual and increasing problem in Paraguay. Objective: Evaluate the factors which determine the nutritional status of Paraguayan childhood by departments, in the period 2000 - 2001. Material and Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical study. The database of the Integrated Home Survey - IHS 2000 / 01 from the General Direction of Surveys, Statistics and Census - DGEEC was used. Estimations were performed at national and departmental level (excepting Alto Paraguay and Boquerón). Cohort: 4543 children (boys and girls) < 5 years of age. Anthropometric measurements were carried out (NCHS curves) and associate variables were determined by multiple regression and logistics analysis. Results: The prevalence of global, acute and chronic malnutrition was 4.6%, 0.8% and 13.7%, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 6.1%. The departments with greater malnutrition were Concepcion, San Pedro, Caazapá, Itapúa, Amambay and Canindeyú. Logistic regression analyses for determinant factors of the nutritional status by departments were highly significant for birth weight, maternal level of education (scholarity), duration of nursing, access to drinkable water, and access to health services (p< 0.01). Birth weight was a significantly protective variable for risk of malnutrition in weight and height in almost all departments (p< 0.01). The determinants factors for height compromise were low birth weight, low maternal level of education, poverty, and no access to drinkable water and health services (p< 0.01). Conclusions: There are problems of pediatric malnutrition and childhood obesity. Adequate birth weight was a significant variable to reduce the risk of pediatric malnutrition. Some departments could decrease the prevalence of chronic malnutrition with a wider access to basic health services.
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Sanabria, M., Robles, M. Determinant Factors of the Nutritional Status of Paraguayan Childhood. Integrated Home Survey - IHS 2000/ 01. Pediatr Res 53, 870 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200305000-00034
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200305000-00034