Factores de riesgo de desnutrición y niveles de hemoglobina en niños de 5 a 10 años que asistan a la Unidad Educativa Dr. Alejo Lascano Bahamonde, en la ciudad de Guayaquil durante el período 2023-2024.

Abstract

Introduction: The first years of life are crucial for human development. During this stage, both physical growth and cognitive development take place. For these processes to occur properly, it is important for children to have good health and a balanced diet. In children, malnutrition can lead to growth and developmental delays, learning difficulties, and an increased likelihood of infections. Objective: To determine which are the risks factors of malnutrition and the hemoglobin levels in children from 5 to 10 years old that attend the Dr. Alejo Lascano Bahamonde Educational Unit, in the city of Guayaquil during the period 2023-2024. Materials and methods: The study conducted employs a quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional design, aiming to determine the risk factors for malnutrition and hemoglobin levels in children aged 5 to 10 who attend the Dr. Alejo Lascano Bahamonde Educational Unit. Results: Revealed that, based on weight-for-age, 71% have an appropriate weight, 12% are at risk of overweight, 9% are underweight, 6% are overweight, and the remaining 2% are severely underweight. Conversely, based on heightfor-age, 84% have a normal height, 11% have a low height, 1% have a very tall height, and severe short stature. Conclusions: Through the results obtained, it was possible to verify that factors such as: eating habits, socioeconomic level, hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements are related to the prevalence of malnutrition and anemia in school-aged children from the Dr. Alejo Lascano Bahamonde Educational Unit, in the city of Guayaquil.