Asociación entre la concentración de hemoglobina capilar y el estado nutricional antropométrico en niños de etapa preescolar y escolar pertenecientes a las fundaciones vinculadas al Banco de Alimentos (Diakonia).

Abstract

This study aimed to relate capillary hemoglobin concentration to anthropometric nutritional status in in preschool and school-aged children belonging to foundations linked to the Food Bank (Diakonia). A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted, with a descriptive scope and an analytical component, through the review of a secondary database obtained by non-probability convenience sampling. Weight, height, body mass index, Z-scores, capillary hemoglobin concentration, and derived variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, association tests, and linear regression. The results showed that 64.3% had normal weight, 84.3% had normal height, and 70.7% had a normal BMI; in addition, 72.9% presented with low hemoglobin, 70.7% with hidden hunger, and 12.1% with a double nutritional burden. No significant associations were observed between hemoglobin and Z-scores, excess weight, short stature, age group, or sex. The findings supported a complementary comprehensive nutritional assessment. It was concluded that anthropometric nutritional status and capillary hemoglobin concentration provided complementary information for infant nutritional assessment, with no statistically significant relationship between both dimensions in the studied sample.