Malnutrition among children younger than 5 years-old in conflict zones of Chiapas, Mexico.
We performed a cross-sectional, community-based survey, supplemented by interviews with community leaders in Chiapas, Mexico, to examine the prevalence and predictors of child malnutrition in regions affected by the Zapatista conflict. The prevalence rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 54.1%, 2.9%, and 20.3%, respectively, in 2666 children aged younger than 5 years. Stunting was associated with indigenous ethnicity, poverty, region of residence, and intracommunity division. The results indicate that malnutrition is a serious public health problem in the studied regions.
Sánchez-Pérez
Héctor Javier
HJ
Department of Population and Health, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas, México. hsanchez@sclc.ecosur.mx
Hernán
Miguel A
MA
Ríos-González
Adriana
A
Arana-Cedeño
Marcos
M
Navarro
Albert
A
Ford
Douglas
D
Micek
Mark A
MA
Brentlinger
Paula
P
D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011057:Politics; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology; D014754:Violence; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology