PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION IN PRESCHOOL-C HILDREN OF TABASCO, MEXICO

Childhood malnutrition is an important and prevailing public health pr oblem in Tabasco, Mexico, where precise information is still lacking. Tabasco Public Health Department has been working on this problem sinc e 1991. The first nutritional survey was carried out to recognize the nutritional level of 935 randomly selected children between 1-4 years of age in 17 municipalities of the state. A proportion of 46% of child hood malnutrition level was found in this Mexican state (29.8 low, 12. 8% moderate and 3.4% severe). Ninety percent of severe childhood malnu trition cases were located in the rural municipalities of Tacotalpa, N acajuca, Jonuta, Macuspana and Centla. These municipalities were more affected, with a malnutrition prevalence of 63%, 62.2%, 60%, 59.5% and 59.4%, respectively. Results from these surveys identify, high risk a reas and may serve to advance specific proposals for nutrition interve ntions.