Evaluation of the nutritional status of school age children in Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad Peru

Abstract

This study evaluated the nutritional status of school age children in Santiago de Chuco, La Libertad from August through December of 2009, so we estimate anthropometric assessment, prevalence of intestinal parasites and hemoglobin concentration. The sample included 83 children, 39 female and 44 male children aged between 4 and 10 years. Anthropometric assessment was carried out according to Body mass index (BMI) and Height/Age (H/E) relation. Subsequently, we give them recipients to collect feces in order to do coproparasitologic exams; also we took blood samples to determine hemoglobin concentration. The results showed that 21 children (25,3%) have a H/E relation under the normal range (under height), meanwhile 16 children (19,3%) have a BMI under the normal range (underweight). We found intestinal parasites in 33 children, Giardia lamblia (69,7%), Entamoeba coli (18,2%), Hymenolepis nana (6,1%), Entamoeba hystolitica (3,0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3,0%) and hemoglobin values range from 11,2 to 15,0 g/%. In conclusion these children who were under acute and chronic nutritional stress need to improve their diet, so appropriate health nutritional intervention programmes are require. The prevalence of intestinal parasites is related to the poverty and poor hygienic habits of the population, low hemoglobin values are related with the prevalence of intestinal parasites and alimentary deficiency.