[Child malnutrition in the Mexican rural setting].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the nutritional status of the infantile population in rural Mexico, compare it with previous data and situate the most affected areas.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sample consisted of 38,232 families, from 855 randomly selected communities. Anthropometry was obtained from 31,601 children under five years of age and analysis was performed considering the reference values of weight/age, weight/height and height/age.

RESULTS

Overall malnutrition affects 42.7 of children according to weight/age indicator (CI = 1.9%). Moderate and severe malnutrition 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 malnutrition is still a severe national problem which has not improved in the last 22 years. The areas of highest prevalence are the southern states which have mostly Indian population.