Prevalencia de desnutrición crónica en infantes menores de 2 años atendidos en el Centro de Salud 28 de Mayo (Yacuambi), en el año 2023

Abstract

Background: In Ecuador, Chronic Malnutrition is one of the Public Health problems due to its high prevalence, being 20.1% in the year 2023 (ENDI), affecting 1 in 4 children in our country currently and ranking among the first places in Latin America and the Caribbean after Haiti (20.4%) and Guatemala (42.8%). Objectives: Determine the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in infants under two years of age who attended the (28 de Mayo) health center belonging to Yacuambi canton in Zamora Chinchipe, in 2023. Methodology: The descriptive, quantitative study with a non-experimental and cross-sectional design was applied. The sample was taken from 126 infants under two years of age treated at the center, a number obtained through the sample size calculation formula for finite populations. Data was collected using a pseudoanonymized database, tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2016, and migrated to the free version of SPSS statistical software for processing and analysis. Results: Of the total number of infants, 24.6% had CIM (19.8% moderate CIM and 4.8% severe CIM), and 30,2% were at risk of short stature. Of the total number of CIM cases, 74.2% were in the age range of 12 to 23 months. Conclusions: Chronic malnutrition in infants is directly related to the age range of the infant. Therefore, it is necessary to increase efforts in food education and nutrition projects aimed at this population.