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Evaluation of athropometric and dietary parameters of children admitted in a public hospital

Abstract:

Introduction: Proper nutrition during childhood continues to be an important challenge within the health team, since insufficient food intake can cause irreversible nutritional imbalances in health and continue into adulthood. Objective: To evaluate the anthropometric and dietary parameters of children hospitalized in a Public Hospital. Materials and methods: A descriptive and cross study was carried out. It included 262 boys and girls between the ages of 1 to 14 years, from the pediatric area of the Abel Gilbert Pontón Hospital in the city of Guayaquil-Ecuador during the years 2018-2019. For the collection of information, the food consumption frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall were used. Finally, anthropometric measurements of weight and height were taken. Results: The research sample consisted of 151 men and 111 women who represented 57.6% and 42.4% respectively. The mean age was 6.3 years, with minimum and maximum values of 1 and 14.4, respectively. The highest percentage of those investigated presented a normal nutritional status according to the indexes weight/age (81.7%), height/age (87.8) and BMI/age (76.7%). Regarding food intake, a deficit in the consumption of calories, macronutrients and micronutrients was observed during the hospital stay. The eating habits of those investigated reflected an insufficient consumption of meat and derivatives (63.7%). In relation to dairy products (42.4%), vegetables (50%) and fruits (58.4%) were normal. Lastly, cereals (87.8%), fast foods (45.4%), snacks (88.2%) and soft drinks (85.5%) are eaten in excess within the usual diet when children find at home. Conclusions: The anthropometric and dietary evaluation is essential at the time of hospital admission,since it allows identifying patients who are at nutritional risk and thus being able to implement a treatment that adapts to their nutritional needs.