Prevalence of anemia in chronically malnourished children under 5 years old in Santa Elena, Ecuador

Abstract

Chronic malnutrition and anemia are health problems that significantly affect the world's child population; For this reason, the objective of this research is to determine the prevalence of anemia in children under 5 years old with chronic malnutrition in the commune of San Pedro, province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. It was possible to identify the magnitude of the problem and the associated factors to implement effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of the affected children. The methodology was based on a descriptive analysis with a quantitative, non-experimental, retrospective design; The data obtained are based on the information provided by the studied population, to identify possible correlations between chronic malnutrition and anemia in these infants through the collection of anthropometric data and measurement of hemoglobin levels in blood samples, socioeconomic and dietary variables and access to health services were evaluated to identify the risk factors associated with anemia in children with chronic malnutrition. The results indicate that chronic malnutrition and anemia are closely related in the child population of San Pedro. Chronic malnutrition, characterized by a lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period of time, contributes to the onset and persistence of anemia. The study concludes that there is a significant number of children with severe short stature and short stature and with a high prevalence of anemia, coinciding with the scientific evidence linking chronic malnutrition with stunting, which increases vulnerability to anemia.