P1007 - EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC MALNUTRITION STATUS IN 200 CHILDREN IN PATZUN CITY AND SURROUNDING RURAL COMMUNITIES (GUATEMALA).

P1007

EVALUATION OF ACUTE AND CHRONIC MALNUTRITION STATUS IN 200 CHILDREN IN PATZUN CITY AND SURROUNDING RURAL COMMUNITIES (GUATEMALA).

F. Busin^1,1,*, R. Giaretta², D. Sardei², A. Gualtiero², D. Saccardo², P. Madre Sonia³, S. Marilyn ³, A. Giaretta², A. Ruaro⁴, K. I. Rodriguez Castro², G. Coin³, I. Brambilla¹

¹Pediatrics , Pavia University, Pavia, ²Medici Vicentini per il Mondo Odv, ³Amici del Mondo Odv, Vicenza, ⁴Nutrition Science, San Raffaele University, Rome, Italy

Rationale: The 2024 GHI (Global Hunger Index) for Guatemala showed that the youngest children (0-5 years) suffer from acute (0,8%) and chronic (46%) malnutrition, particularly in the indigenous populations of rural areas (40% of Maya ethnicity).

Methods: In October 2024, out of 202 children in Patzùn and neighboring aldeas, the following were assessed: clinical status, weight, and height. Then, the Z Score levels were determined with the WHO Anthro programme (HAZ-Height for Age Zscore, WHZ-Weight for Height Zscore).

Results: In general, the children observed have an acute malnutrition rate of 2.6% (WHZ<-2) and a chronic malnutrition rate of 61.7% (HAZ<-2), both higher than the national average. Severe chronic malnutrition is 31,3% (HAZ<-3). Statural growth retardation is frequently accompanied by malnutrition (WAZ), both moderate (<-2, +30%, p<0.0001) and severe (<-3, +9.5%, p=0.007). The furthest villages from the town are those with the highest rates of chronic malnutrition, especially severe malnutrition (HAZ <-3 p=0.053). The objective examination showed that (p<0,05): 1) during pregnancy, mothers frequently experience illness (up to 64%), in prevalence hypertension (7–23%) and hyperglycemia (6–15%); 2) exclusively breastfeeding is well practiced for at least the first 6 months; 3) total weaning takes place at least until 12 months of age; 4) in more severe malnourished children (HAZ<-2) fever is found more frequently (+29%, p=0.047) than in the less malnourished. Diarrhea and many cavities (20%, on average) were found, particularly in older (+51.2%, p<0.0001) and less malnourished children.

Conclusion: In the city of Patzùn and neighbouring villages, the rate of both chronic and acute malnutrition is well above the national average in Guatemala. Chronic malnutrition (HAZ<-2) particularly affects children aged 0-5 years who live in rural areas far from the city (at least 8 km).

Disclosure of Interest: None declared