Publication: Ecoestabilidad femenina y malnutrición severa infantil: Evidencia a partir de intervenciones de ayuda humanitaria de Acción Contra el Hambre en países africanos, Asiáticos y Latinoamericanos
Loading...
Official URL
Full text at PDC
Publication Date
2017
Advisors (or tutors)
Editors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sociedad Española de Dietetica y Ciencias de la Alimentacion (SEDCA)
Citations
Exportar
Abstract
Introducción: Evidencias previas han reportado diferencias en la condición nutricional de niños y niñas pertenecientes a la misma comunidad y sometidos a idénticas condiciones de privación alimentaria. El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar las diferencias sexuales en prevalencia de malnutrición severa en menores de 5 años, sometidos a situación de crisis alimentaria.
Métodos: Se analizaron datos recogidos en intervenciones de ayuda humanitaria llevadas a cabo por Acción Contra el Hambre entre 2002 y 2010 en 24 países. Dichas intervenciones se efectuaron en poblaciones de Africa, Latinoamérica y Asia que se encontraban en situación de grave crisis alimentaria. La muestra se compone de un total de 367.258 menores (186,156 niños y 181,102 niñas) con edad (E) entre 6 y 59 meses. Se midió el peso (P) y la talla (T) siguiendo la metodología SMART y se estimó la prevalencia de severo bajo peso (P/E <-3DE), desnutrición aguda severa (P/T <-3DE) y desnutrición crónica severa (T/E <-3DE) de acuerdo a los estándares de la OMS.
Resultados: Para el total de la muestra, la proporción de niños con severo bajo peso fue de 9,8% en comparación al 7,3% de niñas (p <0.001). La desnutrición aguda severa afectó al 3,9% de los niños frente al 2,5% de las niñas (p <0.001). Las diferencias también fueron notables en la des-nutrición crónica: el 19, 5% de los niños frente al 15% de las niñas (p<0,001) presentaron crecimiento retardado.
Conclusiones: Los resultados avalan la idea de la deno-minada eco-estabilidad femenina, de acuerdo a la cual, las mujeres serian menos sensibles a los factores externos que modulan el desarrollo ontogénico, mientras los varones se ve-rían más negativamente afectados por las agresiones medio-ambientales.
Introduction: Previous evidences reported sex differences in nutritional status between boys and girls of the same community, living under identical conditions of food deprivation. The aim of the present study is to analyze the sexual differences in the prevalence of severe malnutrition in children under 5 years of age, who were subjected to food crisis. Methods: Data from humanitarian aid interventions carried out by Action Against Hunger between 2002 and 2010 in 24 countries were analyzed. These surveys were carried out in populations in Africa, Latin America and Asia that were in a serious food crisis. The sample consists of a total of 367,258 children (186,156 boys and 181,102 girls) aged (A) 6 to 59 months. Weight (W) and height (H) were measured according to SMART methodology. Prevalence of severe underweight (W/A <-3SD), wasting (W/H <-3SD) and stunting (H/A <-3SD) were calculated based on WHO Standards. Results: On the whole sample, the proportion of boys with severe underweigh was 9.8% compared to 7.3% for girls (p <0.001). Severe wasting affected 3.9% of boys versus 2.5%of girls (p <0.001). Differences were also notable in chronic malnutrition: 19.5% of boys and 15% of girls (p <0.001) suf-fered stunting. Conclusion: The results support the idea of so-called fe-male eco-stability, according to which females would be less sensitive to external factors that modulate ontogenetic devel-opment, while males would be most negatively affected by environmental aggressions.
Introduction: Previous evidences reported sex differences in nutritional status between boys and girls of the same community, living under identical conditions of food deprivation. The aim of the present study is to analyze the sexual differences in the prevalence of severe malnutrition in children under 5 years of age, who were subjected to food crisis. Methods: Data from humanitarian aid interventions carried out by Action Against Hunger between 2002 and 2010 in 24 countries were analyzed. These surveys were carried out in populations in Africa, Latin America and Asia that were in a serious food crisis. The sample consists of a total of 367,258 children (186,156 boys and 181,102 girls) aged (A) 6 to 59 months. Weight (W) and height (H) were measured according to SMART methodology. Prevalence of severe underweight (W/A <-3SD), wasting (W/H <-3SD) and stunting (H/A <-3SD) were calculated based on WHO Standards. Results: On the whole sample, the proportion of boys with severe underweigh was 9.8% compared to 7.3% for girls (p <0.001). Severe wasting affected 3.9% of boys versus 2.5%of girls (p <0.001). Differences were also notable in chronic malnutrition: 19.5% of boys and 15% of girls (p <0.001) suf-fered stunting. Conclusion: The results support the idea of so-called fe-male eco-stability, according to which females would be less sensitive to external factors that modulate ontogenetic devel-opment, while males would be most negatively affected by environmental aggressions.