Prácticas y representaciones en torno a la alimentación familiar en distintos ambientes socio-económicos (Villaguay, Argentina, 2010-2012)

ntecedentes:se considera que el conocimiento que guía nuestras prácticas es socialmente elaborado y compartido y que la variabilidad en las elecciones en torno a la alimentación se relaciona con la variabilidad en las condiciones de vida.Objetivo: indagar acerca de prácticas (acciones) y representaciones (ideas subyacentes) en torno a la alimentación de familias con al menos un niño/a de 3 a 6 años de edad residentes en distintos ambientes socio-económicos del departamento de Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina.Metodología:en establecimientos educativos públicos de la zona urbana (Ur), periurbana (Pe) y rural (Ru) del departamento de Villaguay, padres y madres fueron invitados a desarrollar voluntariamente encuestas asistidas, obteniéndose un total de 303 encuestas (109 Ur, 133 Pe y 61 Ru). Los resultados se analizaron y compararon entre zonas mediante pruebas de Chi2.Resultados y conclusiones:el análisis de los datos evidenció diferencias para algunas prácticas y representaciones exhibiendo, además, estrecha relación con la variabilidad en las condiciones de vida. Así, por ejemplo, mientras que las familias urbanas, de más alto nivel socio-económico, elegían sus alimentos principalmente por las marcas, en las familias más carenciadas del periurbano, el precio era el factor determinante. Por último, la zona rural presentó características socio-económicas intermedias y se observó una mayor participación de toda la familia en actividades relacionadas a la alimentación. No obstante, también se detectaron ciertas uniformidades independientes de las condiciones socio-económicas, como la práctica de consumo entre comidas o la preocupación por lograr una "buena alimentación", dando cuenta de que algunos aspectos trascienden las fronteras de los subsistemas socioculturales

ackground:It is known that the knowledge that guides our practices is socially elaborated and that the variability in food choices is related to the variability in living conditions.Objetive: To inquire about practices (actions) and representations (underlying ideas) about the feeding of families with at least one child from 3 to 6 years old living in different socio-economic environments of the Villaguay district, Entre Ríos, Argentina.Methodology:In public educational establishments of the urban (Ur), periurban (Pe) and rural (Ru) areas of the department of Villaguay, parents were invited to voluntarily develop assisted surveys, obtaining a total of 303 surveys (109 Ur, 133 Pe and 61 Ru).Results and Conclusions:The analysis of the data showed differences between zones for some practices and representations, also exhibiting their close relationship with the variability of the living conditions. For example, while urban families of higher socioeconomic status chose their food primarily for brands, in the most deprived families of the periurban, price was the determining factor. Finally, the rural area had intermediate socio-economic characteristics and a greater participation of the whole family in activities related to food was observed. However, certain uniformities, independent of the socioeconomic differences, were also detected, such as the practice of eating between meals or the concern to achieve "a good food", noting that some aspects transcend the boundaries of sociocultural subsystems.

Malnutrición infantil e inseguridad alimentaria como expresión de las condiciones socio-económicas familiares en Villaguay, Argentina (2010-2012). Un enfoque biocultural()

Objetivo:Indagar a) si existen diferencias en las condiciones de vida estimadas a partir de variables socio-económicas, entre familias con niños de 3 a 6 años de edad, residentes en zonas urbana, periurbana y rural del departamento de Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina; y b) en caso de haberlas, si esas diferencias se expresan en el estado nutricional infantil y en la percepción de inseguridad alimentaria en los hogares (PIAH) (en lo que respecta al acceso).Población y Métodos:El estudio fue de tipo transversal e incluyó 303 niños de 3 a 6 años de edad. Para el estudio antropométrico se tomaron peso corporal y estatura, y se empleó la referencia The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Frisancho, 2008) para determinar los indicadores de estado nutricional. La información socio-económica se relevó mediante una encuesta semiestructurada, mientras que la PIAH se obtuvo a partir de la encuesta propuesta por la Academia para el Desarrollo Educativo. Ambas encuestas fueron completadas por los padres de los niños medidos antropométricamente.Resultados y Conclusiones:En general se observó que las poblaciones estudiadas presentaron diferencias socio- económicas en relación con el nivel educativo y empleo paterno y materno, hacinamiento crítico, cobertura de salud, entre otras; estas diferencias se expresarían en la distribución diferencial de la malnutrición infantil y de la percepción de las limitaciones que los padres manifestaron tener a una buena alimentación tanto en términos de cantidad como de calidad.

Objective:To inquire: a) if there are differences in living conditions estimated through socio-economic variables among families with 3 to 6 years old children, living in urban, peri-urban and rural areas of Villaguay department, Entre Ríos, Argentina; and b) in case there is any, whether these differences are expressed in child nutritional status and in the perception of households food insecurity (PHFI) (regarding access).Population and Methods:The study was transverse and included 303 children aged 3 to 6 years old. For the anthropometric study, we considered body weight and height, along with The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Frisancho, 2008) reference to determine nutritional status indicators. Socioeconomic information was inquired through a semistructured survey, while the PHFI was obtained from the survey proposed by the Academy for Educational Development (AED), both filled by parents of children measured anthropometrically.Results and Conclusion:In general, it was observed that the studied populations showed socio-economic differences in relation to parental education level and employment, critical overcrowding, and health insurance, among others; these differences might be expressed in the differential distribution of children malnutrition and in the perception of the limitations that parents said to have to a good nutrition both in terms of quantity and quality.

Contexts of occurrence of child malnutrition in the district of Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina. A multivariate analysis.

The analysis of nutritional status is anthropologically important to address the complex interaction of biological, social, political, economic and cultural factors. To deepen the knowledge about contexts of occurrence of child malnutrition, we analyzed nutritional status in relation to socio-environmental conditions of residence in children between three and six years from Villaguay, Entre Ríos, Argentina. We performed a cross-sectional study of 1,435 school children of both sexes. Body weight and height were measured and prevalence of low height/age (LH/A), low weight/age (LW/A), low BMI/age (LBMI/A), overweight (Ow) and obesity (Ob) was calculated using World Health Organization reference charts. Socio-environmental information was obtained through a semi-structured survey and processed by Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA). Anthropometric data showed 1.5% LW/A, 5.2% LH/A; 0.6% LBMI/A, 20.9% Ow and 10.9% Ob. CatPCA allowed us to define four groups (G1-G4) with better (G2), middle (G1) and worst (G4) urban socio-environmental conditions and one with rural characteristics (G3). G4 presented the highest LH/A prevalence and G2 the highest Ow and Ob prevalence (P<0.05). It is concluded that since the distribution of malnutrition was not even it may dependent on the context in which children grow up. Thus, the higher the socio-economic level, the higher the incidence of overweight and obesity. Conversely, at the other end of the social scale, undernutrition and increasing weight excess remained major health problems.

A comparative study on nutritional status and body composition of urban and rural schoolchildren from Brandsen district (Argentina).

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether nutritional status and body composition varies according to the environment of residence (urban or rural) of children in the Brandsen district (Argentina). Weight, height, arm circumference and tricipital and subscapular skinfolds were performed in 1368 schoolchildren aged 3 to 14. NHANES III reference was used to estimate nutritional status -underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity- and to evaluate body composition -deficit and excess of adipose (DA, EA) and muscular (DM, EM) tissues of the arm-. Central fat distribution (CFD) was estimated using the subscapular-tricipital index. A structured questionnaire was implemented to evaluate socio-environmental characteristics. Nutritional categories based on body size and body composition were compared between urban and rural areas of residence using Chi-squared tests (χ2). The results indicated for the total sample: 1.1% underweight, 6.9% stunting, 0.4% wasting, 12.1% overweight, 9.7% obesity, 22.0% DM, 2.5% EM, 0.1% DA, 17.6% EA, and 8.5% CFD. Significant differences between urban and rural areas were found only for CFD. The socio-environmental analysis showed that while access to public services and housing quality was significantly better in the urban area, a considerable number of city households lived under deficient conditions, lacked health insurance and had low socioeconomic level. Fifty-three percent of the undernourished children had DM without urban-rural significant differences, and none of them showed DA. In the overweight plus obesity group, 62.8% presented EA, 6.4% EM, 4.7% DM, and 22.8% CFD. The highest percentages of DM and CFD were recorded in rural areas (p = 0.00). We conclude that the child population shows the "double burden" of malnutrition. The environment of residence does not promote any differentiation in the nutritional status. Nevertheless, the increment of central adiposity and, in some cases of muscle deficit in rural children, suggests a consumption of unbalanced diet.