Magnitud y tendencia de la desnutrición y factores asociados con baja talla en niños menores de cinco años en México, Ensanut 2018-19

Abstract

Objective. To update malnutrition prevalence and its trends over the last 30 years and identify factors associated with stunting in a national sample of children <5 y in Mexico. Materials and methods. Malnutrition prevalences in children <5 y in 2018-19 were compared with prevalences from the previous 30 years. Associations of stunting with geographic, household, maternal and individual factors were assessed using multiple logistic regressions. Results. 4.8% of children <5 y were underweight, 14.2% stunted and 1.4% wasted. Between 1988-2012 a decreasing trend in stunting was observed that was interrupted between 2012-2018. Stunting was positively associated with children living in rural localities, the Southern Region, poorer households, with indigenous mothers or whose mothers had a greater number of children. A negative association was found with diet diversity. Conclusions. Stunting is a persistent problem associated with social vulnerability that had been declining in the last 30 years; however its descending trend was inter- rupted between 2012 and 2018. It is imperative to implement a national strategy for the prevention of stunting.