Coexistence of nutritional disorders in children less tan 5 year-old in Peru 2007-2010

Abstract

Introduction. Our country’s transition is the non-westernized type, because problems that have not been solved persist (nutritional deficiencies) along with emerging problems (overweight and obesity). Objective. To describe the presence of coexisting chronic malnutrition (CM) with obesity (O), nutritional anemia (NA) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and obesity (O) with NA and VAD in children under the age of 5. Design. Secondary analysis of the MONIN 2007-2010 survey. Setting. National study. Participants. Children under the age of 5. Interventions. A total of 3 764 children were weighed and measured. Hemoglobin dosage was obtained in 2 808 children, serum retinol in 1 524. Hb below 11 g / dL was diagnosed as NA. Correction by altitude was taken into account. The cutoff for VAD was serum retinol <20 ug/dL. The relation of CM and O with height/age ratio and weight/height, with cutting levels < 2 SD and > 2 SD, respectively, were done according to the WHO reference. Analysis used complex samples, descriptive statistics and logistic regression, calculated with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of <0.05. Results. 22.4% of CM were anemic, 21.7% presented VAD and 4.8% obesity. The risk of being anemic represented four times higher than the risk of being CM. 5% of the obese were anemic and 4.2% had VAD; no association was found. Conclusions. We found a scenario more complex than the one problems represent at an individual level. This poses a challenge to the people in charge of designing nutritional policies, since this deserves a new vision in the management of this issue, especially in the Food Assistance Programs.