CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The aim was to determine nutritional status, enteroparasitoses and socio-environmental conditions of children dwelling in 13 localities of La Plata district, Province of Buenos Aires, by means of a transversal study. Body weight, total and sitting height, arm circumference and tricipital skinfold were performed in 6,397 children aged between 4,0 to 13.9 y old. Body mass index, cormic index and muscular area of the arm were calculated and nutritional status and body composition and proportions were estimated using NHANES III. Socio-environmental variables were obtained through structure questionnaires. Parasitological analysis was made in 729 children using serial samples of fecal material recollected by the parents and processed with Ritchie technique and serial anal brushes. General results indicated 22.1% of excess of weight, 8.7% of undernutrition and 68.5% of parasitoses. Enterobius vermicularis (38.6%) and Blastocystis sp. (36.0%) were the most prevalent parasites, while geohelmints and nonpathogenics protozoos were less prevalent. La Plata district presents a great internal heterogeneity in the analyzed variables. The lack of environmental sanitation, the low level of education, and the lack of formal jobs may explain the occurrence of parasitoses and undernutrition in children from Villa Elvira, Los Hornos and Melchor Romero localities whose changes in body composition and proportions were observed. On the other hand, children of City Bell, Tolosa and Villa Elisa, whose parents presented higher education levels and more stabilized jobs although with deficient in sanitary conditions of residence-, presented prevalence of excess of weight more elevated