Socio-economic and ethnic disparities of malnutrition in all its forms in Guatemala

Public Health Nutr. 2020 Aug;23(S1):s68-s76. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019002738. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

Abstract

Objective: To analyse disparities of malnutrition in all its forms by socio-economic indicators in children aged <5 years, adolescent girls and women of reproductive age (WRA).

Design: We defined wasting/underweight, stunting/short stature, overweight and obesity following the WHO criteria for children aged <5 years, adolescents and WRA. We evaluated the prevalence of malnutrition by wealth status, education level and ethnicity (indigenous/non-indigenous).

Setting: Guatemalan 2014-2015 National Maternal and Child Health Survey.

Participants: Children aged <5 years (n 11 962), adolescent girls aged 15-19 years (n 1086) and WRA aged 20-49 years (n 11 354).

Results: Stunting/short stature prevalence among children, adolescents and WRA was 2·8, 2·1 and 2·0 times higher in the poorest compared with the richest; 2·9, 2·9 and 2·1 times higher in the lower educational level than in the highest; and 1·7, 1·7 and 1·6 times higher in the indigenous than in the non-indigenous population. In contrast, overweight/obesity prevalence among children, adolescents and WRA was 1·6, 2·1 and 1·8 times higher in the richest compared with the poorest; 1·6, 1·3 and 1·3 times higher in the higher educational level than in the lowest; and 1·3, 1·7 and 1·3 times higher in the non-indigenous than in the indigenous population.

Conclusions: Stunting/short stature is more prevalent among low-income, low-education and indigenous populations in all age groups. In contrast, overweight/obesity is more prevalent in high-income, high-education and non-indigenous populations in all age groups. These outcomes demonstrate socio-economic and ethnic disparities for malnutrition in all its forms.

Keywords: Disparities; Guatemala; Inequalities; Malnutrition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child, Preschool
  • Educational Status*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Growth Disorders / epidemiology
  • Guatemala / epidemiology
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Male
  • Malnutrition / epidemiology*
  • Malnutrition / ethnology
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Poverty
  • Prevalence
  • Socioeconomic Factors*
  • Thinness / epidemiology
  • Young Adult