The seasonality of nutrition status in Shawi Indigenous children in the Peruvian Amazon

Abstract

Research on the impact of seasonal and climatic variability on childhood nutritional status in the Amazon is limited. We examined how the nutritional status of Shawi children under five years changed seasonally and explored parental participation in food system activities (fishing, livestock, agriculture, hunting) as a potential influence. Using a community-based research approach with Indigenous Shawi Peoples, we conducted cross-sectional surveys in pre-harvest (July-August 2014) and post-harvest (November-December 2015) seasons. Sociodemographic data, parental participation, weight, height, and hemoglobin concentration were collected for childhood nutritional assessment. We employed bivariable linear regression to analyze associations between seasonal variations in children’s nutrition and parental food system engagement. The study took place across eleven Indigenous Shawi communities in Loreto, Peruvian Amazon. In total, 74 Shawi children and their parents were analyzed. Results indicated a decrease in childhood wasting (4.9% to 0.0%) and persistent anemia (66.2% to 66.2%), while stunting increased (39.2% to 41.9%) from pre-harvest to post-harvest. Parental participation in food activities varied seasonally, but its impact on childhood nutritional status was not statistically significant. Our findings highlight significant levels of undernutrition in Indigenous Shawi children, with slight seasonal variation. Future interventions must consider seasonal dynamics, and further exploration of parental roles in children’s diets is warranted.