Abstract:

Introduction: Undernutrition in children under five years old, especially in the rural-indigenous context, where hunger and poverty prevail remain a public health concern, is alarming. This problem has been addressed by social programs such as the Community Dining Program (PCC) of the National Crusade Against Hunger (CNCH). Objective: To assess the impact of the PCC over school children after two years of enforcement at an indigenous rural common land in the coffee highlands of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, through the food security approach. Methods: We conducted an explanatory case study were nutritional status of 31 children under five years old was evaluated in 2014 and again in 2016. We carried out anthropometric measurements and applied household surveys to obtain socio-demographic information. The results of both interventions (2014 and 2016) were analyzed, including income, social programs executed in the common land and the household expenditure. Results: We identified that by 2016 there was a marginal positive impact on the length-for-age z-scores (t=1.83, p=0.077); however, there was a negative impact in the weight-for-height (indicating an increase in acute malnutrition) and weight-for-age z-scores. Conclusion: Children undernourishment in the studied area persists and might be related to a phase of illness and inadequate food intake. The PCC did not show evidence of its impact after two years of enforcement.

Keywords: food policy; food security; malnutrition; coffee highlands of Soconusco; Chiapas; México