Migración como factor de riesgo en desnutrición del niño preescolar

Resumen

SUMMARY Objective: To determine whether migration is associated with malnutrition in preschool children of migrant families. Material and Methods: A case-control study. A case was defined as a child 1–6 years of age with malnutrition according to height-for-age, an indicator recommended by the World Health Organization (n = 64). Family migration history and social and economic characteristics were studied. Results: Malnutrition was associated with family migration (OR = 2.61, 95 % CI = 1.36 to 5.01), father with blue-collar occupation (OR = 3.16, 95 % CI = 1.32 to 7.5), income less than two minimum wages (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI = 1.19 to 4.84), and father's schooling higher than primary school (OR = 3.35, 95 % CI = 1.26 to 9.05 ). The logistic regression model that best explained malnutrition included father with blue-collar occupation, income less than two minimum wages, father with schooling higher than primary, high and very high segregation, rural-urban traveling direction, and migration. Conclusions: The study showed migration as a nutritional risk factor. It is important to implement nutritional surveillance systems and nutritional intervention actions in this population. Demographic variables are necessary for health planning.