Malnutrition and associated factors in preschool Miskito Indians in Nicaragua

The nutritional status of 463 infants and preschool children was assessed in a Miskito Indian community in northeast Nicaragua. Data were collected over an eight‐month period in order to measure the factors affecting growth. Growth curves of the healthiest children were satisfactory until three months of age and then declined. In September, 55 percent of the children showed first or second degree malnutrition based on the Gomez system and the Harvard standards. Subsequent improvement in nutritional status occurred and, eight months later, the prevalence of malnutrition had decreased 19 percent for stunting and 33 percent for wasting. Stunting was the predominant form of malnutrition in children over 24 months. However, younger children were characterized by stunting and/or wasting, with the greatest prevalence in those from 12–23 months of age. Factors associated with second and third degree malnutrition were high birth order, early infancy, large household, high incidence of disease and physical handicaps.

Key words:

• Miskito Indian
• protein‐energy malnutrition
• anthropometry, maternal nutritional status
• stunting
• Nicaragua
• nutritional status
• growth standard
• high risk children
• wasting

Notes

Presently with UNICEF, Brasilia, Brazil.