CHILDREN MALNUTRITION IN RURAL MEXICO

Objective. To evaluate the nutritional status of the infantile populat ion in rural Mexico, compare it with previous data and situate the mos t affected areas. Material and Methods. The sample consisted of 38 232 families, from 855 randomly selected communities. Anthropometry was o btained from 31 601 children under five years of age and analysis was performed considering the reference values of weight/age, weight/heigh t and height/age. Results. Overall malnutrition affects 42.7 of childr en according to weight/age indicator (CI=1.9%). Moderate and severe ma lnutrition 22 years ago was 17.4% and now these affect 19.3%. Further data show that 55.9% are malnourished according to height/age, and 18. 9% according to weight/height. Conclusions. The ENAL 96 shows that mal nutrition is still a severe national problem which has not improved in the last 22 years. The areas of highest prevalence are the southern s tates which have mostly Indian population.