Valoración del estado nutricional a niños y niñas del Centro Infantil del Buen Vivir Huayna Capac, Cuenca 2022 - 2023

Abstract

Background: in childhood a series of physical, social and intellectual changes are witnessed. Since adequate nutrition in the preschool stage contributes to proper growth and development, an opportune diagnosis of the nutritional status of this population is essential. Objective: to determine the nutritional status of boys and girls at the Children's Center for Good Living Huayna Capac, Cuenca 2022 - 2023. Method: quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 63 boysand girls. The data was collected using the survey technique; data were tabulated in Excel and analyzed in SPSS 21.0. Descriptive statistics were applied and the data was presentedin tables of frequency and percentages. Results: men predominate with 61.5%. A mean age of 2 years 6 months (± 5 months) is observed. A prevalence of low weight of 10.8% is identified; an average weight of 12.77 kg (±1.9 kg) was obtained. 17% presented short stature, 6.2% being severely short stature; de obtained a mean height of 87.2 cm (±6.37 cm). With respect to BMI/age, prevalences of 1.5%and 3.2% were obtained for the severely emaciated and emaciated respectively; in addition to6.2% and 1.5% for overweight and obesity, respectively. Regarding weight/height, 16.9% of people were identified as overweight, 10.8% obese, 21.5% acutely malnourished, and 4.6% severely acute malnourished. Conclusion: although low numbers of alterations in nutritional status are identified, the number of people with overweight, obesity and acute malnutrition is striking, which is why it isessential to promote timely diagnosis and adequate therapy in these patients.