Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
Nutritional status of children in the health district of Cusco, Peru
Insights
Nutritional status in Cusco, Peru children declines significantly with age, particularly low weight-for-age, but improves after age two. Factors like sex, altitude, and remoteness also impact child nutrition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood malnutrition remains a significant global health challenge.
- Understanding nutritional status in diverse populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To accurately assess the nutritional status of children under 10 years in the Cusco, Peru Health District.
- To identify age-related trends and influencing factors on nutritional status.
Main Methods:
- A sample survey involving anthropometric measurements of 3,383 children under 10 years.
- Statistical analysis to determine nutritional status and its correlation with various demographic and environmental factors.
Main Results:
- A marked decline in normal nutritional status was observed from infancy (96.88% at 1-3 months) to toddlerhood (37.43% at 12-24 months).
- Nutritional status showed gradual improvement after age two, with approximately 50% in the normal range.
- Low weight-for-age was the primary deficit in older children.
- Nutritional status was significantly associated with sex, village altitude, remoteness, and population size (p < 0.005).
- Sex showed a significant interaction with age, with differing outcomes for boys and girls at various ages.
Conclusions:
- Childhood nutritional status in Cusco, Peru, is dynamic, declining in early years and improving later.
- Interventions should consider age-specific needs and factors like sex, altitude, and geographic remoteness.
- Addressing low weight-for-age is critical for improving nutritional outcomes in older children.
Abstract:
This study was conducted to obtain an accurate assessment of the nutritional status of the children in the Cusco, Peru Health District. It is a sample survey of anthropometric measures for 3,383 children under the age of 10 yr. The results showed a significant decline in nutritional status with age (96.88% normal range at ages 1-3 mo to only 37.43% normal at ages 12-24 mo) followed by a gradual improvement in the children above 2 yr (approximately 50% normal). The deficits at the older ages were principally due to low weights-for-age. Nutritional status was also dependent on sex, village altitude, remoteness, and population size (p less than 0.005). Of these, only sex interacted with age. The girls did significantly better at some ages and the boys better, but not significantly so, at other ages.
