[Prevalence of malnutrition in minors under 5 years of age in Tabasco]. / Prevalencia de desnutrición en menores de cinco años de Tabasco.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate malnutrition prevalence in children under five years-old in Tabasco, Mexico, during 1996, and their evolution in 1991-1996. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study, including 1,256 children under five years-old in 593 communities (31 urban and 562 rural) from 17 sanitary districts. RESULTS: The weight/age indicator for malnutrition in children under five years old showed 59% of children had normal nutrition and 41% with malnutrition, distributed as follows 26.12% slight, 12.62% moderate and 2.39% severe. In children between 1-5 years old, malnutrition prevalence was 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The number of children with malnutrition in Tabasco during the study period (1991-1996) has decreased in proportion to the increase of those with normal nutrition. Based on the health system activities, the number of health districts with critical malnutrition indicators decreased from 6 to 4.