Community strategies for the prevention of malnutrition in children aged 0-5 years at the El Carmen health post, sector 9, municipality of San Juan del Río Coco, Nicaragua, 2019

Abstract

Historically, in the communities of the municipality of San Juan del Río Coco, there has been a deterioration in the nutritional status of children aged 0-5 years, according to data from the Ministry of Health, affecting approximately 60% of this age group. Therefore, this study seeks to determine the state of malnutrition in children aged 0-5 years who are treated at the El Carmen health post, in order to contribute to the design of a community strategy focused on the prevention of malnutrition. According to the philosophical approach, it is a quantitative research. Two hundred and fourteen surveys were applied to mothers of affected children, interviews to health personnel, community leaders and family. The hypothesis is fulfilled by demonstrating that there is an inversely proportional relationship between food practices and hygiene habits and malnutrition. A community strategy is proposed that aims to contribute to the eradication of malnutrition in children from zero to five years of age in the sector of El Carmen, San Juan del Rio Coco, Nicaragua. The following actions are proposed for its implementation: promote the organization and participation of the different social actors, promote the access of families to nutritious, healthy and sufficient food, and promote the awareness of the population about the consequences of malnutrition in the development of children 0-5 years old.