Abstract

MARTINEZ-SANCHEZ, Lina María et al. Anemia as a sign of malnutrition in children belonging to the home nutritional recovery program in Antioquia, Colombia. Univ. Salud [online]. 2014, vol.16, n.1, pp.103-111. ISSN 0124-7107.

Introduction: 10% of the population present malnutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean and 16% in children under five. Objective: To identify anemia as a sign of malnutrition in children belonging to the home nutritional recovery program from San Juan de Dios Hospital in Santa Rosa de Osos, Antioquia. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study which included 33 children (0-10 years) from the program was carried out. Anemic patients for other reasons were excluded. Full blood counts were done using values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, presence of anemia and its classification for analysis. The MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) to assess the nutritional status of the population was employed. Other anthropometric measures used were the weight in kilograms and height in centimeters and BMI (Body Mass Index). A database in the program SPSS version 19.0 was done for the analysis of information. The quantitative variables with the level of reason, averages and standard deviations (SD) were analyzed and qualitative variables were expressed in percentages. The research had the ethical approval from the institution. Results: 51% of patients included in the study were female, and the average age was 3.5 years, 97% corresponded to 1 and 2 socioeconomic strata and four out of five patients belonged to the contributory scheme. The 8.6% suffered from global malnutrition and the 23% suffered from underweight. Hemoglobin with average of 12.3 g/dL and hematocrit 37.3% were found. In children with anemia, in more than a third, hypochromia and microcytosis were evident. Conclusion: anthropometric values relate to limiting values of hemoglobin and the presence of hypochromic microcytic anemia.

Keywords : Malnutrition; anemia; nutritional recovery; food habits.

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