Abstract

TABORDA RESTREPO, PAULA ANDREA  and  PEREZ CANO, MARGOT ELENA. Family functionality, food security and nutritional status from children of Antioquia food complementation departmental program. CES Med. [online]. 2011, vol.25, n.1, pp.6-19. ISSN 0120-8705.

Introduction: Family is the unit in which the internal and external subjects are combined allowing development of child's aptitude. This item is relevant if nutritional topics, their connections with food security and family function are taken into account. Thus, the possible association between these indirect factors and the proper nutritional state of a child give tools for a future intervention against other factors to overcome the malnutrition in the department of Antioquia. Methods: The aim of this transversal descriptive study was to investigate family function and food security at the children's homes of the program "MANA" (Nutritional and feeding improvement program of Antioquia). The children's homes were selected from a representative sample of 63 towns (municipalities) of the Department of Antioquia. The sample was comprised of 11 436 children and their families. An anthropometric evaluation was made to every child, taking into account the WHO 2006 reference tables and the Resolution 2121 of the Protection Ministry of Colombia. Sampling method was simple randomized. We used nonparametric statistics, logistic regression and correspondence analysis to analyze the data. Results: The delay in height was found in 14.9%, 3.3% with very low weight for age, and 1.2% with very low weight for height and thin 2%. In contrast was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (over 30%). In total, over 70% of households perceived food insecure and 49% dysfunctional family. In the linear regression model were positively associated with chronic malnutrition, number of household members, food insecurity, family dysfunction, and severe malnutrition. Variables such as household income and age was negatively associated. Conclusion: There is association between food security, family functioning and chronic malnutrition. So these, as well as other factors, become risk factors and are part of indirect intervention policies.

Keywords : Food security; Nutritional status; Anthropometry; Family relations; Malnutrition.

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