Estudio del estado nutricional de la población infantil de la zona rural de la costa ecuatoriana

Abstract

Objectives To determine the effects of a diet based on carbohydrateson the nutritional status of a pediatric populationthrough a study performed in a rural area of the provinceof Los Ríos (Ecuador). Patients and methods We evaluated 871 Ecuadorian children from a rural environmentin an ambulatory medical clinic created for thepurposes of the study. Basic anthropometric measurements(weigh, height, head circumference and upper armcircumference) and clinical data from physical examinationwere recorded. The anthropometric measurements were compared with the growth charts used in Spanishchildren, which were taken as the standard referencemeasurements. Information on nutrition was obtainedfrom interviews with the mothers. Results A total of 871 children were evaluated (53 % boys; 47%girls). Mean age was 6.39 years (range: 0-14 years; mode 4).Comparison of the data obtained with the standardgrowth charts for the Spanish pediatric population revealedsignificant differences in body mass index in boysaged 5-14 years and in girls aged 3-12 years and highly significantdifferences in boys aged 6-13 years and in girlsaged 3-12 years. Significant differences in middle upperarm circumference were found in boys and girls aged1-14 years and highly significant differences were foundin boys aged 1-12 years and in girls aged 2-12 years. A middleupper arm circumference of less than 14 cm (slightmalnutrition) was found in 6.67 % of boys and in 9.15%of girls; a middle upper arm circumference of less than12.5 cm (serious malnutrition) was found in 1.82 % of boysand in 2.82 % of girls. Nutritional interviews revealed thatthe overall caloric intake was approximately 1,500 cal/day. Eight percent of calories came from carbohydrates,15 % from fats and 5% from proteins Conclusions A poor diet affects the child population's nutritional statusqualitatively but not quantitatively. Nutritional deficitfavors the prevalence of childhood diseases that could beavoided by suitable feeding and hygiene. Because of thelack of economic and health resources, prevention is thefundamental weapon for maintaining health in underdevelopedcountries. Childhood nutritional status is influencedby diet, which in turn is influenced by physical, climatic,cultural and political factors, and by stress, which isprovoked by infections and parents' behavior. Nutritionalstatus in children is a clear reflection of the socioeconomicstatus of a given population.