Food intake associated with chronic malnutrition in Peruvian children under 5 years of age with and without breastfeeding

Abstract

Objective: To determine food intake associated with chronic malnutrition in Peruvian children under 5 years of age with and without breastfeeding. Material and methods: The design of the research is non-experimental, quantitative, observational, descriptive and cross-cutting. The sample included 11.583 children under the age of 5 and the study was a secondary analysis of the 2022 National Demographic and Family Health Survey database. The binary logistic regression statistical model was used, the dependent variable is chronic malnutrition (no/yes) and the predictor variables were the foods given to the child yesterday during the day or night (no/yes). Results: Children who are not breastfed have a higher risk of suffering from chronic malnutrition if they do not consume: water (p = 0.001, OR = 1.269), fruit juice (p = 0.001, OR = 1.256), any food made from cereals (p = 0.015, OR = 1.279), beef, liver, other viscera (p = 0.008, OR = 1.209), chicken meat, fish, shellfish, tripe, other meats (p = 0.009, OR = 1.206) and dark green leafy vegetables (p = 0.029, OR = 1.156), in addition those who did not consume soft drinks and broth (p = 0.011, OR = 0.850) have a lower risk of presenting chronic malnutrition. Breastfed children have a lower risk of chronic malnutrition if they do not consume tea or coffee (p=0.013, OR=0.860) and porridge from social programs (p=0.028, OR=0.612). Conclusions: Non-lactating children who did not consume soft drinks and broth are less likely to develop chronic malnutrition, however, breast-feeding children who do not drink tea or coffee and are influenced by the Peruvian government's social programs have a lower risk of chronic undernourishment.