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Pediatría (Asunción)
versión On-line ISSN 1683-9803
Resumen
BUBAK, Vit y SANABRIA, Marta Cristina. Changes in the nutritional status of indigenous children under 5 years of age in Paraguay between 2008 and 2016. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2023, vol.50, n.1, pp.27-32. ISSN 1683-9803. https://doi.org/10.31698/ped.50012023006.
Introduction:
Malnutrition is an ongoing challenge that has a detrimental impact on the development of indigenous children.
Objective:
To describe changes in the nutritional status of indigenous children under five years of age in Paraguay between 2008 and 2016.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study based on nationally representative data from the Survey of Indigenous Households (SIH 2008) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2016).
Results:
The mean z scores were: weight for age -0.40±0.90 SD (2016) vs -0.56±1.20 SD (2008), weight for height 0.74±0.90 SD (2016) versus 0.64±1.20 SE (2008), and height for age -1.57±1.1 SE (2016) versus -1.75±1.6 SE (2008). The prevalence of global malnutrition (GM), acute malnutrition (AM) and chronic malnutrition (CM) decreased between 2008 and 2016: GM 9.8% (2008) vs. 4.3% (2016) (p<0.05), AM 1.5% (2008) vs. 0.2% (2016) (p<0.10), and CM 41.7% (2008) vs. 31.5% (2016) (p<0.10). The number of children at risk of malnutrition decreased for GM and AM, and increased for CM: at risk of GM 25.0% (2008) vs. 16.0% (2016) (p<0.10), from AM 5.6% (2008) vs. 2.6% (2016) (n.s.), and CM 29.4% (2008) vs. 38.5% (2016) (p<0.10). The prevalence of overweight children remained unchanged: 9.0% (2008) vs. 8.9% (2016). Significant improvements in living conditions, especially in access to healthcare and basic infrastructure, both of which are significantly related to nutrition outcomes in 2008, have probably played a key role in the observed improvements in nutritional status.
Conclusions:
Despite improvements in the nutritional status of indigenous children in Paraguay during 2008-2016, their nutritional profile remains worrisome. Food and nutrition policies and interventions designed for indigenous peoples should be strengthened according to the food perceptions and cultural lifestyles of indigenous communities.
Palabras clave : Child health; indigenous population; nutritional status; Latin America; malnutrition.