Determinantes da malnutrição infantil no Distrito de Meluco

Abstract

Child malnutrition is determined by a variety of factors, but at an individual level, the most important factors are food security and health. Health status is determined, among several factors, by the quality of water consumed and the type of sanitation used by the individual. The present work was intended to analyze the determinants of child malnutrition (children under five years of age) in the short and long terms, specifically, it was intended to analyze the relationship between the use of water and latrine and the prevalence of malnutrition and diarrhea. ; additionally, it was intended to determine the effect of these factors on the prevalence of child malnutrition. With the work, it was also intended to study the effect of monthly sales and the composition of the household. The main methods of analysis used in the present work were: statistical analysis of associations using the chi-square test and regression analysis. The data used were collected in the district of Meluco at the request of the German Agrarian Action. The initial sample size was very small due to the high number of missing values. The main results of the study are: in the short term, the quality of the water used is associated with the prevalence of child malnutrition, although the regression model shows that this factor has no significant influence. In the long term, the use of well water has a positive and significant effect on nutritional status. The chi-square test and regression analysis indicate that latrine use, monthly sales and household composition do not significantly influence nutritional status.