Health disparity in Honduras: evaluation of growth status in children ages 6–60 months compared to mother's body mass index

Abstract

In Honduras, one in four children suffer from malnutrition. The purpose was to determine if growth parameters are associated with socioeconomic status and the mother's body mass index (BMI). Height and weight were obtained from randomly selected children in this cross‐sectional study of 53 children ages 6–60 months and their mothers living in Montaña de la Flor, Honduras. In children, stunted was defined as height‐for‐age <−2 z‐score (HAZ), wasted as weight‐for‐height <−2 z‐score (WHZ), and underweight as weight‐for‐age <−2 z‐score (WAZ). Mother's BMI was defined as underweight <18.5, normal 18.5–24.99, overweight 25–29.99, obese ≥30 and stunting in the mother as height <145 cm. Prevalence of children stunted was 53%; wasted 6%, and underweight 40%. Mother's prevalence was overweight 22%, obese 4% and stunted 30%. Mother's BMI was not significantly associated with children's growth parameters. Of the mother‐child pairs evaluated (n=46) when the mother's BMI was ≥ 25, 15% had a child that was stunted, 13% underweight and none wasted. Significant associations were found between WAZ and telephone ownership, piped water, type of roofing and household food security (child having no breakfast, eating less and going hungry, decreased access to food, and adult going hungry).Grant Funding Source: USDA NIFA Competitive Grant 2011 67002 30202 and USDA, SD Agricultural Experiment Station Grant SD00H249–08.