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Nutritional status of schoolchildren before and after confinement by COVID-19 (2019–2021) in Jujuy, Argentina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2024

María José Bustamante Open the ORCID record for María José Bustamante [Opens in a new window] ,
Juan Manuel Solis ,
Celia Margarita Tabera ,
Natalia Maraz ,
Gisela Belén del Rosario Gutiérrez  and
José Edgardo Dipierri
María José Bustamante*
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA), Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu) - CONICET, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina Instituto de Biología de la Altura, UNJu, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
Juan Manuel Solis
Affiliation:
Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, UNJu, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
Celia Margarita Tabera
Affiliation:
Plan de Contingencia y Comedores Escolares, Secretaria de Equidad Educativa, Ministerio de Educación de la provincia de Jujuy, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
Natalia Maraz
Affiliation:
Estadística Educativa, Ministerio de Educación de la provincia de Jujuy, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
Gisela Belén del Rosario Gutiérrez
Affiliation:
Dirección de Información, Monitoreo y Evaluación Educativa, SICE, Ministerio de Educación de la provincia de Jujuy, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
José Edgardo Dipierri
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas (INECOA), Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu) - CONICET, San Salvador de Jujuy, Jujuy, Argentina
*
Corresponding author: María José Bustamante; Email: mjbustamante@inbial.unju.edu.ar
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Abstract

An increase in the prevalence of obesity due to lockdown and confinement linked to COVID-19 is observed. Variations in the nutritional status of schoolchildren from Jujuy are analyzed in relation to confinement due to COVID-19 (2019–2021) and its relationship with socio-demographic variables and the school environment. This is an observational, descriptive study. Data from 56,695 schoolchildren aged 6–18 years old is analyzed based on two temporary cuts (2019 pre-confinement and 2021 post-confinement). The nutritional status of schoolchildren (underweight, overweight, and obese) was established using the IOTF (International Obesity Task Force) criterion. The prevalence of each nutritional phenotype was estimated by sex and age group, considering the following independent variables: setting (rural/urban), school management system (public/private), geographic altitude, and percentage of households with unmet basic needs (UBN) in the place where they attend school. Multiple proportions contrast was performed using Fisher's test, a transition matrix ws produced and a statistical model of proportional odds was fitted. It was observed that between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of underweight decreased and the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased significantly. In 2021, 67% of schoolchildren maintained the same nutritional category that they had in 2019, 21% gained weight and 12% lost weight. The model explains about 52% of the total variability observed. The factors that are significantly correlated in the model are school cycle, age, geographic altitude, school setting, and % of households with UBN. The results indicate that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a shift to the right in the distribution of the nutritional status categories of the schoolchildren population in Jujuy, with a decrease in the prevalence of underweight and an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity with variations related to age, school location, geographic altitude, and socioeconomic characteristics of the households in the place where the children attended school.

Keywords

COVID-19transitionobesity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 56 , Issue 4 , July 2024 , pp. 683 - 692
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press

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