Nutritional status in schoolchildren from first to sixth grade in La Paz Honduras

Abstract

A deficient nutritional state in childhood increases the risk of death, inhibits their cognitive development and affects their health condition for life. At- tending to this problem is an indispensable requirement for ensuring the development of children and the development of countries. Objective: To establish a nutritional status in school children aged six to twelve who attend the school “Nuestra Señora La Merced”, La Paz, Honduras, during the months of March through April 2016. Methology: Descriptive, cross-sectional study, with a universe of 155 children, the sample was of 110 children confidence index of 95%, probability in favor 50%, With a percentage error of 5%, with prior in- formed consent authorized respectively by legal tutors, WHO tables and guidelines were used to assess the nutritional conditions of children. Results: Out of the 110 students evaluated from first to sixth grade, 11(10%) were emaciated, 6 (5%) were obese, 14 (13%) were overweight, 21 (19%) were in risk of overweight and 58 (53%) had an adequate nutritional condition, as well, 40% had respiratory diseases, 30% chikungunya, 10% diarrhea, and 10% anemia. In all the homes of the emaciated children parents receive a monthly income higher than the minimum salary. Conclusions: Nutritional disorders are still present in Honduran children, with a significant increase of children in possible risk of being overweight, overweight and obese, these being the main problems currently of the students in our study; however, there are still children with emaciation.

Keywords

Child Development, Malnourishment, and Obesity