Abstract
BackgroundThis study aimed to ascertain the Social Determinants (SDs) of malnutrition (over and undernutrition) of Chilean children aged up to five.MethodsThe study was carried out using a sample of children from zero to five years old (n = 1,270,485; 52.2% female) from the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN) 2017. A multinomial logistic regression model was used, where the “child nutritional status” outcome variable assumed three possible values: normal nutrition, overnutrition, and undernutrition, while taking those variables reported in previous literature as independent variables.ResultsThe model, by default, set normal nutrition as the reference group, Count R2 = 0.81. Results show a higher likelihood of both overnutrition and undernutrition among male children from the lowest quintiles, with native ethnic backgrounds, reporting health problems, having public health insurance, and who attend kindergarten. Additionally, higher probabilities of undernutrition in younger than two and living in the north of the country, while overnutrition is more likely in the south.ConclusionsSocioeconomic variables are fundamentally related to both over and undernutrition; the current single schema program to prevent malnutrition should consider SDs such as ethnicity and geographical location, among others; moreover, successful nutritional programs—which focused on the lowest quintiles, need to be expanded to other vulnerable groups and pay more attention to overnutrition.
Highlights
This study aimed to ascertain the Social Determinants (SDs) of malnutrition of Chilean children aged up to five
Children with undernutrition are more likely to live in a context of poverty and inequality in their adulthood, which perpetuates the risk of undernutrition for future generations, creating a harmful cycle that is difficult to eradicate [4]
Number of observations Iterations LR Chi-square (40) Prob > chi2 Count R2 McFadden’s R2 Cox-Snell Nagelkerke χ2 (40) = 36,668.99, p < 0.0001, rejecting the null hypothesis that all parameters included in the model are equal to zero
Summary
This study aimed to ascertain the Social Determinants (SDs) of malnutrition (over and undernutrition) of Chilean children aged up to five. Knowledge of social determinants (SDs) can contribute to implementing comprehensive social programs to address the conditions that generate disadvantages to people’s health [2]. Social determinants of malnutrition in children under five Malnutrition in children under five—either under or overnutrition—is a matter that requires serious attention because it increases the risk of illness or death, worsens comorbidities, and negatively impacts physical, intellectual, and psychomotor development [2, 6, 8, 9]. Child malnutrition implies losing a healthy lifetime [10], increasing health costs [9], and negatively affecting future human capital [11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
