[Economic impact of chronic, acute and global malnutrition in Peru].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the economic impact of chronic, acute and global malnutrition in Peru.


METHODS
This study, through an econometric model, estimated the economic impact of child malnutrition in two time horizons (incidental retrospective and prospective) during 2011, considering malnutrition-associated costs of health, education and productivity for the Peruvian economy. Information collected is a combination of data coming from the Demographic Survey of Family Health, the National Survey of Homes, the 2007 Census of Population and Housing, and public budget information, as well as estimates of risks a child is exposed to due to malnutrition during their first years of life.


RESULTS
Nationwide it was found that in the perspective retrospective, the cost of child malnutrition in 2011 was 10,999 million soles, which was equal to 2.2% of GDP for that same year. Prospective costs nationwide, of those who by 2011 were 0 to 59 months, reached 4,505 million soles and represented 0.9% of GDP in 2011. Most cases stem from losses of productivity in both cases. Moreover, malnutrition affects much more both the Andes and jungle regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The economic impact of child malnutrition represents a significant percentage of GDP, reason for which it is necessary to continue investing equitably in its prevention through participation with proven efficiency.
Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo, Lima, Perú
Lorena
L
Alcázar
Grupo de Análisis para el Desarrollo, Lima, Perú
Diego
D
Ocampo
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Perú
Lucio
L
Huamán-Espino
Centro Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima, Perú
Juan
J
Pablo Aparco
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult