An approach to the health status of three Ashaninkas communities located in Tambo and Ene rivers, 2006

Abstract

In May 2006 a cross-sectional study was conducted in three Ashaninka communities located in Ene and Tambo rivers, to describe their health status. Health status was defined based on five indicators: prevalence of child malnutrition, acute diarrheal diseases (ADD), acute respiratory infections (ARI), maternal mortality and infant mortality. Parents were interviewed about deaths in children under 1 year, maternal deaths, cases of ADD and ARI. We evaluated the nutritional status by measuring weight and height in children aged 0 to 6 years and noted the status of protection in vaccine immunization cards. Was conducted 53 interviews with parents and 83 children were evaluated in the communities of Samaniato, Tziquireni and Mayapo. There wasn’t any maternal death and there wasn’t any children death. The global malnutrition reached 43.3% and ranges from 53 to 57% between 12 and 47 months and increased to 58.8% after 48 months. Chronic malnutrition reached 78.3% of children assessed. Parents reported that 53.1% of children had an episode of EDA and 57% of IRA. 98.9% of children older than one year were protected. These results allow an approach to the health situation in Ashaninka communities, which should facilitate the design of intervention programs or activities targeted nutritional support for children of this community.