Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114273

Patricia Najera-Aguilar, MA Geography¹, Enrique Loyola, MD, MSc¹, Ramón Martinez-Piedra, Inf System Eng¹, Manuel Vidaurre-Arenas, MSc¹, and Carlos Castillo-Salgado, MD, DrPH². (1) Area of Health Analysis and Information Systems, Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Org./UN, 525 23rd.St NW, Room 602A, Washington, DC 20037, 2029743192, najerapa@paho.org, (2) Special Program for Health Analysis, Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd Street, N. W., Washington, DC 20037

Growth retardation among school-age children is a frequent malnutrition form in Central American (CA) countries. The objectives of this study were to define magnitude and distribution of the Severe Growth Retardation (SGR) prevalence among schoolchildren in CA, and to evaluate the relationship between SGR and environmental factors affecting food provision using spatial analysis. In 888 municipalities of three contiguous countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras were studied. Population includes 782,905 first grade schoolchildren. Data come from the National Schoolchildren Height Census of El Salvador (2000), Guatemala (2001) and Honduras (1997). Municipal SGR prevalence was calculated and its geographic patterns examined. Environmental factors' influence was assessed: percentage of agriculture landuse and terrain conditions were calculated for the three countries using satelite images. Moran's/LISA autocorrelation indicators were applied to identify SGR geographic clusters (SIGEpi1.0). 12.3% of the studied schoolchildren (96,297) showed SGR. In El Salvador was 3.1%, in Guatemala 14.5%, and 15.2% in Honduras. 178 municipalities from the three countries define critical spatial clusters (I=0.74, p<=.01), where in average, 32.9% of schoolchildren present SGR. Environmental factors: pine-oak forest ecosystem, abrupt topography and low agricultural use are geographic features spatially correlated with SGR clusters. SGR elevated frequency in CA countries indicates the need for establishing programs and policies aimed to diminish SGR occurrence and impact. As Millenium Development Goals contemplate reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition; the present spatial situation analysis is a first step for monitoring and orientating plans and policies at local level. Other social, economic and health factors have to be considered.

Learning Objectives:

• To identify how spatial analysis is useful for monitoring the magnitude and distribution of children’s health needs at local level in Central America and improves focus plans and policies that contemplate reduction of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, Nutrition

Related Web page: ais.paho.org/sigepi

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.