Abstract

GULLERIAN, Adriana R.; GUEZIKARAIAN, Norma I.  and  OLIVO, Martín S.. Situación nutricional de niños en contextos de pobreza de Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2006, vol.104, n.5, pp.416-422. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Since 2002, Argentina has suffered a social-economical crisis, with 73.5% of poor children, most of them homeless. The nutritional deficiencies suffered during the time period from birth to 3 years of age cause irreversible sequels in children's growth and physical as well as cognitive development. The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional status of children at risk from Puerto Iguazú, from the ages of 0 to 14 years. Population, materials and methods. Cross-sectional and descriptive analysis, using the anthropometric method, of children attending to a food and health care program during five days in December 2002. The variables evaluated were: age, sex, weight, height, tricipital skin fold, muscle and cephalic circumference, weight at birth and gestational age. The data were reported by means of qualitative variables expressed as percentages. A square chi test was used for independent samples in order to contrast the difference in proportions. Results. 243 children were evaluated; under the 10^th percentile were the following: weight/age: 32.92%, weight/height: 21.5% and height/age: 34.15%. 32.61% of the children under 4 age years had a reduced cephalic circumference. 30.93% had low birth weight or inadequate weight. Conclusions. The percentage of stunting -according to height/age ratio- exceeded the acute weight deficiency according to weight/height ratio. The low weight/age ratio prevailed in children under the age of six; the height/age ratio showed a similar tendency. The acute weight deficiency according to weight/height ratio was similar after the first year.

Keywords : Anthropometric assessment; Stunting; Low weight; Poverty.

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