Malnutrition in Argentine preschoolers: 2005-2019

Abstract

In low- and middle-income countries, studies on children's health focus primarily on their nutritional status, especially the presence of malnutrition. Child malnutrition is a major public health problem in Argentina. The objective of this research is to study the determinants and evolution of young children’s nutritional status in Argentina at the national level, and at different socioeconomic levels, between 2005 and 2019. We use data from the 2004-05 and 2018-19 National Survey of Nutrition and Health (ENNyS1 and ENNyS2). We use multivariate logit models, including household risk factors for childhood malnutrition, to estimate the likelihood of the occurrence of stunting and overweight in Argentinian children aged 24 to 60 months. Our results show that the prevalence of overweight among preschoolers has increased significantly between 2005 and 2019, from just below 10%, still a medium prevalence level, to more than 13%, a high prevalence level. The prevalence of overweight increased between 2005 and 2019 at all socioeconomic levels. The prevalence of stunting has not significantly changed in almost 14 years, remaining at around 7%, a low level. Except for the Cuyo region, which is close to the intermediate level, stunting prevalence in all regions remains between 5 and 8%. Understanding the determinants and evolution of young children’s nutritional status is key to implementing policies aimed at improving childhood nutrition.