Abstract

VEGA ROMERO, Román et al. Analysis of disparities caused by nutritional anemia in Colombia in 2005. Rev. Gerenc. Polit. Salud [online]. 2008, vol.7, n.15, pp.46-76. ISSN 1657-7027.

This investigation analyzes disparities in nutritional anemia in Colombia from the perspective of the social determinants of health, food security and human rights. It utilizes secondary information from the Colombian National Nutrition Survey (la Encuesta Nacional de la Situación Nutricional en Colombia -ENSIN) and the National Survey of Demograhics and Health (Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud -ENDS), both conducted in 2005 and both having national coverage and representation. The methods used to describe existing disparities include the estimation of prevalence ratios, concentration indices and multivariate analysis of the determinants of nutritional anemia identified through the disaggregation of explicatory variables. The greatest prevalence of nutritional anemia in Colombia is found in children ages 5 to12 years. The greatest disparities and greatest concentration of nutritional anemia as found in the poorest strata were also seen in this group. Additionally, as with the under 5 age group, these disparities predominantly affect rural areas and the Atlantic region of the country. These disparities are associated with factors such as deficient basic sanitary infrastructure, not participating in child growth and development programs, not being affiliated with social security, deficient diet and poor general health. This study demonstrates that meeting the challenge of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger requires the promotion of interventions that act on the social factors determining the disparities described herein. The construction of more equitable societies will allow for the attainment of national nutritional goals by bringing the relation between social determinants and inequities in nutritional anemia into focus.

Keywords : health equity; social determinants; food security; human rights; equity in health; food security; right to health care.

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