Child Nutritional Status in the Changing Socioeconomic Region of the Northern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract

The living conditions (i.e., socioeconomic, healthcare-related, nutritional, and environmental) to which children are exposed may influence their ability to reach their optimal growth potential. This review focuses on the relationship between the nutritional status of children under five years of age and social and environmental factors in Northern Brazil. Children living in this region have limited access to healthcare and face precarious socioeconomic and environmental conditions. This analysis was based on data from national health surveys, the consolidated food, nutrition surveillance system (SISVAN), and indicators of the DPSEEA (driving force, pressure, state, exposures, health effects, and actions) framework. The northern region has the worst living conditions in the country, and children under five years of age have significant height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height deficits. Concomitantly, the prevalence of children who are overweight has increased significantly, although it remains lower than that in more developed Brazilian regions. Insufficient and/or inadequate dietary practices and early exposure to unfavorable living conditions are risk factors for nutritional deviations. Further advances in public health policies that consider regional characteristics, particularly in the north, where progress has been slower, are needed.

Influence of Maternal Fish Intake on the Anthropometric Indices of Children in the Western Amazon

“…Our findings also indicated a positive influence associated with higher family income on the H/A and W/A indices. This confirms previous findings that associated unfavorable socioeconomic and environmental conditions with a high prevalence of anthropometric deficits in Amazonian children [ 18 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

“…Besides nutritional factors, growth of a child also depends on the living conditions in which the child is exposed [ 18 , 39 ]. In Amazonian populations with high fish intake, children’s anthropometric indices (H/A, W/A, and W/H) are influenced more by variables associated with socioeconomic and maternal-infant factors, rather than with fish-Hg exposure.…”

“…Indeed, poverty in the Amazon has been associated with growth delay in children [ 18 , 39 , 41 , 43 ] and is aggravated in indigenous children [ 44 , 45 ]. The risk of malnutrition increases in response to the transition from breastfeeding to often inadequate feeding.…”

“…Nevertheless, exposure to MeHg (from fish consumption), coupled with the lack of adequate infrastructure (roads, clean water, and waste disposal) and substandard living conditions, are still some of the major problems. A recent study has shown that unfavorable socio-economic conditions associated with poor feeding and nutritional practices in the Northern region of Brazil are still determinants of poor anthropometric indices among young children [ 18 ].…”

Permasalahan gizi pada anak balita pasca gempa: Studi kasus di Palu, Sigi, dan Donggala

“…Status gizi balita merupakan indikator untuk mengukur kesehatan dan kesejahteraan populasi, karena kesehatan balita mudah dipengaruhi oleh ketahanan pangan, lingkungan, ekonomi, dan perubahan kebijakan (4,5,6). Masalah kurang gizi merupakan penyebab kematian pada anak balita.…”