Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies and morbidity by infectious diseases in children 0-5 years of age in Iñapari in the Peruvian Amazon

Introduction: Iñapari is a town located in Peru, on the border of Brazil, between the Amazonian states of Acre and Amazonas. The local Peruvian children under five years of age present moderate anemia while the percentage of chronic child malnutrition is a major public health problem in the country as a whole. Goals: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of major childhood morbidities caused by anemia, malnutrition, intestinal parasites, toxocariasis, and hepatitis A, and identify connections with the socioeconomic and environmental conditions found in Iñapari. Methods: Interviews with questionnaires; anthropometric measurements, collection of feces and venous blood samples. Results: A 20% prevalence of anemia and 8.5% prevalence of chronic malnutrition (height for age deficiency) was found. A pathogenic intestinal parasite was noted in 24.5% of the samples, where Giardia intestinalis (14.7%) was the most frequent. The seroprevalence of toxocariasis was 33.8% and hepatitis A was 21.2%. Conclusion: There is a connection between the results found and the poor living and sanitary conditions of the population. The low income noted is also linked to the malnutrition and anemia detected

Insegurança alimentar em famílias com crianças menores de cinco anos de idade, na fronteira Brasil-Peru / Food insecurity in families with children under five years of age on the Brazil-Peru Amazon border

Food and nutrition security is the regular and permanent access to quality food in sufficient quantity. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in households with children under five in the Amazon frontier Brazil - Peru. The study was conducted in 352 households in Assis Brasil (Brazil) and 89 households Iñapari (Peru), finding a prevalence of food insecurity of 40.6 % and 38.2 % , respectively ( p = 0.856 ) . In Assis Brasil, having domicile with wood floors or land increased by 2.47 times the odds of food insecurity compared to cement floors, ceramic or quarry tiles . Belonging to the poorest tertile increased the chance of food insecurity in 6.04 times ( p < 0.001 ), and the increment of each new resident increased by 37 % the chance of food insecurity in the household . In Iñapari, only living in house made of wood or with a wood floor was associated with food insecurity, showing that income is still the main factor associated with food insecurity in the Amazonian borders.

A segurança alimentar e nutricional consiste na realização do direito de todos ao acesso regular e permanente a alimentos de qualidade, em quantidade suficiente, sem comprometer o acesso a outras necessidades essenciais, tendo como base práticas alimentares promotoras de saúde que respeitem a diversidade cultural e que sejam ambiental, cultural, econômica e socialmente sustentáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a prevalência e os fatores associados a insegurança alimentar em famílias com crianças menores de cinco anos na fronteira amazônica Brasil - Peru. O estudo foi realizado nos municípios de Assis Brasil (Brasil) e Iñapari (Peru) localizados na tríplice fronteira formada por Brasil, Bolívia e Peru. Dos 441 domicílios com crianças menores de 5 anos identificados, 352 (79,82%) localizavam-se em Assis Brasil, e os demais em Iñapari. As prevalências de insegurança alimentar nos municípios são semelhantes. Assis Brasil apresentou 40,6% e Iñapari 38,2% (p=0,856). Em Assis Brasil, ter domicilio com piso de madeira ou terra aumentou em 2,47 vezes a chance de insegurança alimentar comparado a piso de cimento, tijolo, cerâmica ou lajota. Pertencer ao tercil mais pobre aumentou a chance da insegurança alimentar em 6,04 vezes (p < 0,001), e o incremento de cada novo morador aumentou 37% a chance de insegurança alimentar no domicílio. Este estudo mostra que na região amazônica a renda ainda é o principal fator associado a insegurança alimentar.