Keywords
malnutrition
undernutrition
anemia
ferritin
retinol
child
Colombia
How to Cite
Abstract
Background
Intestinal parasites, hunger and malnutrition are manifestations of prevalent health inequalities, determined by social, economic and political inequities. Indeed, such public health problems are evident worldwide and few measures are being taken to overcome them, despite the existence of the scientific knowledge and technological tools to address them.
Objective
To measure the prevalence of malnutrition and pathogenic intestinal parasites in children of the Urabá region of Antioquia, Colombia, and to relate these factors to prevailing living conditions.
Methodology
The study was carried out in Turbo (Urabá), among children <15 years of age, applying a prospective descriptive design (prevalence survey). Children were recruited at home or at school. Tests were performed for the following: stool examination, hemogram, ferritin, retinol and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Results
A total of 1600 children were evaluated, with the following findings: 25% had chronic malnutrition; 45% had a detected hemoglobin value <11 g/dL; 20% low ferritin levels; 26% low retinol levels; and 87% had confirmed pathogenic intestinal parasites.
Conclusions
These findings confirm the poor living conditions of children and their families in Urabá, compared to those generally reported in Antioquia and the rest of Colombia. There are high levels of malnutrition, anemia, and iron and vitamin A deficiencies. In Urába, hunger, malnutrition and parasites co-exist in children <15 years of age. Living conditions prevalent in Urabá generate and perpetuate this situation, while the necessary resolution of the underlying problems is not being tackled.
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