Introduction:

Food programs have proven to be effective tools to reduce the prevalence of child malnutrition.

Objectives:

To evaluate the effectiveness of the nutritional intervention of the Comprehensive Nutritional Food Program (PANI) in the changes of anthropometric and biochemical indicators in children <5 years at risk of malnutrition and malnourishment who presented to the Regional Hospital of Concepción, upon admission to the program versus after six months of intervention.

Materials and Methods:

This was a prospective study with an analytical component. Sample size: 134 boys and girls <5 years old, PANI participants in Concepción during 2014. Cut-off points for malnutrition and anemia were according to WHO criteria. Parametric and non-parametric measures were used, χ2, τ student test was applied. Significance p <0.05.

Results:

134 children were evaluated. Average Age: 22.4 months. 59.7% were breast-fed. Mothers with <6 years of schooling, 17.9%, 80.6% with ≤ 3 children. Access to safe water, 44.8% and access to basic sanitation 40.3%. Exclusive breastfeeding at the 5th month of age was 7.5%. The prevalence of malnutrition decreased after the 6th month of intervention from 14.9% vs 4.4% (p <0.01). The prevalence of children at risk of malnutrition decreased from 73.1% to 27.6% at the 6th month. Anemia on admission, 63%. Intestinal parasitosis on admission 24.6%. PANI desertion rate was 31.3%.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of malnutrition and anemia decreased after the 6th month of treatment in children participating in PANI in Concepción.

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