Valoración del estado nutricional en niños menores de 5 años que acuden a la consulta externa de un centro de salud de la ciudad de Guayaquil.

Abstract

Nutritional assessment in children under 5 years of age allows the detection of deficiencies or excesses, facilitating appropriate intervention. A balanced diet covers the nutrient and energy needs in each case. Objective: To assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years of age who attend the outpatient clinic of a health center in the city of Guayaquil. Methodological Design: A quantitative, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional study. Population: 100 children under 5 years of age who attend the outpatient clinic of a Health Center in Guayaquil. Technique: Direct observation. Instrument: Direct observation checklist. Results: Most of the children were 0 to 11 months old (47%), male (54%), of urban origin (91%), with signs of overweight (28%). They received breast milk (37%), had a family history of diabetes (30%) and a personal history of malnutrition (35%); they almost always ingested carbohydrates (58%), vitamins (70%); and rarely proteins (58%) and minerals (58%). They had normal height (98%), normal weight (66%), and a BMI of overweight (28%). Normal abdominal (79%) and cranial (94%) perimeter. Hydration was normal (65%), skin texture was smooth (38%) and there was no dehydration (72%). NANDA diagnoses of overweight (16%) and obesity (14%) predominated. Conclusion: The assessment of nutritional status revealed that an estimated global average of 66% of children under 5 years of age have an adequate nutritional status, although there is a slight presence of overweight and obesity problems.