FACTORES SOCIO-ALIMENTARIOS DE CRECIMIENTO Y SALUD EN ESCOLARES Y ADOLESCENTES

Socio-Nutritional Factors in the Growth and Health of Schoolchildren and Adolescent

Resumen

Introducción: La etapa escolar y adolescencia es una etapa de cambios fundamentales a nivel físico, biológico y emocional donde se adquieren nuevos conocimientos y se crean nuevos hábitos alimentarios. Objetivo: Relacionar los factores socio-alimentarios de crecimiento y salud en escolares y adolescentes. Metodología: estudio observacional, cualitativo, transversal, se evaluó los factores socio-alimentarios y el estado se salud y nutrición de los niños escolares y adolescentes de Ambato, analizados por estadística descriptiva y de relación mediante la prueba Chi cuadrado (p < 0,05) Resultados: Se evaluaron a 221 pacientes, la mayoría género masculino 55%, de ellos 53 % eran indígenas, 61 % del sector rural. El 58 % ve más de 2 horas de tecnología al día; el 62 % desconoce los alimentos de un plato saludable, el 28 % desconoce del lavado de manos y el 61 % cambiaría la alimentación institucional. La mayoría de los grupos de alimentos saludables no se consumen según lo recomendado. El 12% presenta delgadez, el 21 % presenta sobrepeso y obesidad, el 24 % presenta baja talla. Discusión: existe relación estadísticamente significativa entre índice de masa corporal/edad y consumo de cereales, presencia enfermedades diarreicas y respiratorias, sector de residencia; entre talla/edad y consumo de lácteos, ve más de 2 horas al día tecnología, presencia de enfermedades diarreicas y respiratorias.  Conclusión: Los problemas de malnutrición, tanto por déficit y exceso, se relacionan significativamente con el consumo inadecuado de cereales y lácteos; la presencia de enfermedades diarreicas y respiratorias.

Abstract

Introduction: School and adolescence are periods of fundamental change on a physical, biological and emotional level, during which new knowledge is acquired and new eating habits are formed. Objective: To analyze the relationship between socio-nutritional factors, growth, and health in schoolchildren and adolescents. Methodology: This was an observational, qualitative, cross-sectional study that assessed socio-nutritional factors as well as the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren and adolescents in Ambato. The data were analyzed using descriptive and relational statistics, with the Chi-square test (p < 0.05). Results: A total of 221 patients were evaluated, the majority being male (55%). Of these, 53% were Indigenous, and 61% were from rural areas. Additionally, 58% spent more than 2 hours per day using technology; 62% were unaware of the components of a healthy plate, 28% lacked knowledge about handwashing, and 61% would change the institutional diet. Most healthy food groups were not consumed according to recommendations. Moreover, 12% of the participants were underweight, 21% were overweight or obese, and 24% had stunted growth. Discussion: A statistically significant relationship was found between body mass index/age and cereal consumption, the presence of diarrheal and respiratory diseases, and place of residence. Additionally, a significant association was observed between height/age and dairy consumption, technology use exceeding 2 hours per day, and the presence of diarrheal and respiratory diseases. Conclusion: Malnutrition problems, both deficiency and excess, are significantly associated with inadequate grain and dairy consumption, as well as the occurrence of diarrheal and respiratory diseases.