The nutritional status of Guaymi Indians living in Chiriqui province, Republic of Panamá

Guaymi Indian children have recently been identified as a population group who are at risk for vitamin A deficiency with numerous cases of xerophthalmia with ocular perforation being reported. A four-day parasitological and nutritional clinic based survey was conducted with 335 Guaymi women and children in the towns of San Felix and Alto Caballero to identify the prevalence of parasitic infections and factors associated with malnutrition. A subsample of 79 children, under 19 years of age, from independent families was constructed for the current analysis. The results of the study indicated that 20% of the children had a plasma vitamin A concentration less than 20 micrograms/dl. Significant associations were identified between ascariasis, age, a food diversity score and vitamin A concentrations. Other indicators of nutritional status were also negatively associated with intestinal parasitic infections, and a modernization index, using multivariate regression analysis. In conclusion, this study identified several factors associated with poor nutritional status that can be used by health officers to identify Guaymi children at risk for malnutrition.