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Reconsidering child malnutrition in Mexico: A comparison of prevalences using NCHS‐1977 and WHO‐2006 growth standards
Author(s) -
GonzálezCossío Teresa,
Rivera Juan A,
Monterrubio Eric,
González Dinorah,
Unar Mishel,
Cossío Teresa González,
Rivera Juan A,
Monterrubio Eric,
González Dinorah,
Unar Mishel
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.873.6
Subject(s) - wasting , breastfeeding , malnutrition , environmental health , public health , medicine , demography , pediatrics , nursing , pathology , sociology , endocrinology
Objective: compare the prevalence of malnutrition in preschool Mexican children with the new WHO‐2006 child growth standards and with the previous NCHS‐1977 growth references. Methods: Stunting and wasting prevalences (%<−2Z height/age and weight/height respectively) with both references were estimated using data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, a multistage stratified random sample representative at national and state levels. Results: A total of 7,802 preschool children were measured. The prevalence of stunting was 12.7 and 15.5% using NCHS‐1977 and WHO‐2006 references respectively. Those of wasting were 1.5 and 2.0%. However, the most important differences appeared in the <6mo age group, where the prevalence of wasting was 0.2 and 4.9% with the NCHS‐1977 and the WHO‐2006 references. Conclusions: Undernutrition is a greater problem in Mexico than previously estimated, particularly wasting in the very young. Breastfeeding according to WHO recommendations could prevent growth failure at this important life stage. Including breastfeeding promotion as part of the Nutrition Public Policy agenda might improve early child growth.