Evaluación del estado nutricional mediante indicadores antropométricos en infantes de seis meses según su tipo de lactancia en la provincia de los Ríos, cantón Baba, periodo enero 2021- agosto 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: Ecuador is currently the second country in Latin America and the Caribbean with the highest rates of child chronic malnutrition after Guatemala. Our country has a double burden of malnutrition, since infants are not only suffering from malnutrition due to food deficit, but they are also overweight and obese due to excess nutrients. Objectives: To evaluate the nutritional status of infants who attend the pediatric clinic located in the province of Los Ríos, canton Baba through anthropometric indicators. Methodology: A study was carried out with a non-experimental, retrospective, cross-sectional cohort methodological design; with a quantitative approach using the indirect observation technique. It involved 100 six-month-old infants in the lactation stage. Results: 57% of the population receives exclusive breastfeeding and the remaining 43% is fed with artificial lactation, according to the P/E 69% of the infants are at a normal weight of which 22% are fed with lactation official and 47% with exclusive breastfeeding; As for T/E, 91% have a normal height for their age and 9% have short stature, in this indicator breastfeeding corresponds to 53.34% of children with normal height and artificial lactation represents 66.67% of the infants with short stature. By the P/T indicator: emaciated (10%), Normal (69%), Obesity (8%), possible risk of being overweight overweight, severely emaciated (3%) and overweight (4%). Conclusions: When interpreting the indicators, it was reflected that children who meet normal parameters in each indicator are mostly those who are breastfed and those who receive artificial feeding tend to be at risk of being overweight and short. Recommendations: Complement the data of anthropometric indicators with biochemical data, dietary and clinical history of the child and the mother; socioeconomic status.