Seguridad alimentaria y su relación con el estado nutricional en niños de 5-10 años de las escuelas ‘‘Los Cañaris y Luis Cordero’’ de la ciudad de Azogues-Ecuador 2025.

Abstract

Background: Child malnutrition and food insecurity in Ecuador represent critical public health challenges; according to various studies, 23% of children aged 5 to 10 suffer from chronic malnutrition, leading to poor physical and cognitive development. Objective: To analyze food security and its relationship with nutritional status in children aged 5 to 10 years at the Los Cañaris and Luis Cordero schools. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study with a quantitative approach, using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) due to its relevance for measuring food insecurity in Latin American contexts and its solid methodological foundation, which was administered to the study population. Results: A total of 84.8% of the children presented food security, while 83.2% were classified as having normal nutritional status. Food insecurity (15.2%) was significantly associated with chronic and acute malnutrition (p=0.0001), as well as with overweight and obesity. Differences in normal nutritional status were observed according to school: “Luis Cordero” at 86.2% and “Los Cañaris” at 79.3%. Regarding gender, 84% of boys and 82% of girls presented normal nutrition. Conclusions: The demographic profile showed a predominance of girls and a concentration in the 6- to 8-year age group, highlighting the importance of adapting strategies to the school context. Gaps in food security were identified, whose socioeconomic and cultural roots demonstrate the vulnerability of specific groups. The close relationship between food security and nutritional status highlights the urgent need for comprehensive and targeted interventions. Keywords: child malnutrition, nutritional status, food insecurity, child nutrition, food security