SUMMARY
Physical growth of children from Peruvian Amazon born in the eighties
This paper presents data of physical growth for 673 children under 5 years born in the eighties in Iquitos and Punchana, Peruvian Amazon. The data were based on a clínical and nutritional research survey and a multiple stratified probability sample procedure was used. The statistical analysis were performed on EPI-INFO Version 6.04 and MULTLRM and included: prevalence ofz-score under-2 standard deviation, means and standard deviation, ANOVA, t-test, relative risk and odds ratio. The results showed a high prevalence of low height/age (28.3%) and a relativley low for weight/age (12.5%). The final model obtained from the uncondicional logistic regression included the following variables as independent factors significantly associated with low height/age: child age (RR=1.05,CI95%: 1.03-1.07); maternal education> 5 and< 10 years (RR=0.48, IC 95%:0,32-0.73), maternal education > 10 years (RR=0.11, CI 95%:0.01-0.89) and higienic services with latrine (RR=2.22, CI 95%:1.46-3.37) and without WC (RR=4.15, Cl 95%:1.56-10.99). These findings coroborate the influence of ecological factors on the determination of low height/age, and suggest that interventions should be centered on the enlargement of educational coverage and on improvements of higienic conditions, as for this Peruvian school sample, both variables were defined as potencial determinants for the low height/age.

Key words: Anthropometry, stature, physical growth, Peruvian Amazon, nutrition.



Recibido: 22/05/1998
Aceptado: 25/03/1999

HOME > EDICIONES > Año 1999, Volumen 49 - Número 2 Ir al principio

PRIVACIDAD | ACCESIBILIDAD ALAN-VE ISSN 0004-0622 - Depósito Legal: pp 199602DF83 Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutrición Producción editorial en Venezuela: Capítulo Venezolano - RIF: J-30843129-0 Urbanización Santa María, primera transversal, No. 417-214, Planta Alta Tele-Fax: (+58-212) 283.8618 E-mail info@alanrevista.org Código Postal: 1070 Caracas - Venezuela