Open AccessDesnutrición crónica en niños menores de cinco años de la comunidad indígena awá, Barbacoas (Nariño, Colombia), 2019
Author(s) -
Diana Carolina Arteaga,
Jorge Iván Pérez García,
Lina Maya,
Oscar Iván Quirós Gómez
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
revista ciencias de la salud
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2145-4507
DOI - 10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/revsalud/a.10868
Subject(s) - malnutrition , medicine , logistic regression , low birth weight , environmental health , pediatrics , demography , gerontology , pregnancy , sociology , biology , genetics , pathology
Chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years old is defined as stunting due to recurrentnutritional deficiencies associated with poverty, maternal health, and nutrition. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and associated factors in children under 5 years old from the indigenous Awá community, at Barbacoas, Nariño in 2019. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 527 children under 5 years old from the Awá community who attended a health institution for growth and development program. Chronic malnutrition was evaluated as an outcome, whereas sociodemographic, nutritional and other health characteristics as associated factors. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Mann–Whitney’s U test were used to determine statistical association. Additionally, the relationship was adjusted through a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Chronic malnutrition was found in 17.6% of children. The statistical association was found in children of the adolescent mother, incomplete vaccination schedule, and age and birth weight. Conclusion: In children under 5 years old in the Awá community, the frequency of chronic malnutrition is above the average for the general population in Colombia. Prioritizing the active search for chronic malnutrition in children whose mothers are adolescents and those with low birth weight and incomplete vaccination is important.