[Nutritional status of two generations of brothers and sisters <5 years of age beneficiaries from opportunities living in marginalized rural communities in Chiapas, Mexico]

Nutr Hosp. 2015 Jun 1;31(6):2685-91. doi: 10.3305/nh.2015.31.6.9020.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Mexico, in recent decades, has developed several programs to eradicate the problem of infant malnutrition <5 years, primarily among those living in rural and indigenous areas. However, there is insufficient evidence on these programs’ impact on child health and nutrition.

Objective: To describe the nutritional changes of two generations of brothers and sisters living in rural communities of Chiapas and who are Oportunidades beneficiaries.

Methods: Cross-sectional study. It was determined: underweight, stunting, wasting and overweight plus obesity. Older brothers and sisters were evaluated in 2002-2003, for 2010-2011 younger brothers and sisters were evaluated, both groups were <5 years of age at the time of data collection.

Results: Malnutrition, in its three types is a problem. 43.4% of brothers and sisters evaluated in 2010-2011 showed stunting, underweight prevalence declined from 18% to 13.2%, wasting (low weight for height) increased from 8.1% to 10.4%. Overweight and obesity increased significantly by 12 percentage points among brothers and sisters, from 24.8% in 2002-2003 to 36.8% in 2010-2011. Malnutrition among male children is lower than their brothers and sisters from the 2002-2003 generation (stunting p=<0.05), overweight and obesity was 10.9 percentage points higher than their brothers and sisters (26.4% to 37.3%).

Conclusion: Children beneficiaries from Opportunities have not yet overcome chronic malnutrition problems. This study shows that there is not a clear impact in improving the nutritional status of the study population.

En México, en las últimas décadas se han desarrollado varios programas para erradicar el problema de la desnutrición en infantes < de 5 años, principalmente de aquellos que viven en áreas indígenas y rurales. No obstante, no existe suficiente evidencia sobre su impacto en la salud y la nutrición infantil. Objetivo: describir los cambios nutricionales de dos generaciones de hermanos(as) que han sido beneficiados por el programa Oportunidades en comunidades rurales de Chiapas. Métodos: estudio transversal. Se determinó: bajo peso, baja talla, emaciación y SP + O (Sobrepeso más Obesidad). Los hermanos(as) mayores fueron evaluados en los años 2002-2003, para el 2010-2011 se evaluaron a los hermanos( as) menores, ambos grupos eran < de 5 años de edad en el momento de conseguir la información. Resultados: la desnutrición en sus tres formas es un problema, 43,4% de los hermanos(as) evaluados(as) en 2010-2011 presentaron baja talla, la prevalencia de bajo peso disminuyó de 18% a 13,2%, la emaciación (peso bajo para la talla) aumentó de 8,1% a 10.4%. El SP + O aumentó significativamente 12 puntos porcentuales entre los hermanos(as) de 24,8% en 2002-2003 a 36,8% en 2010-2011. La desnutrición en los niños (varones) es menor que la de sus hermanos de la generación de 2002- 2003 (baja talla p =.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Health
  • Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Nutritional Status*
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Prevalence
  • Rural Population