Young Children's Nutrition, Growth, and Cognitive Development in the Ecuadorian Amazon

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Topic - Solicited Content: Indigenous Children and Families

Abstract

The overall goal of the present multiple paper dissertation is to describe the nutritional patterns, growth status, and cognitive development of rural living children in the Amazon region of Ecuador. The following papers will first describe the diets of these young children, what strengths parents currently have, and what barriers parents face in feeding their children healthy diets. I will then examine what factors are associated with and may be impacting children’s physical growth and cognitive development within families that live in this region. To achieve this, the proposed set of studies utilizes both qualitative and quantitative methods, driven by Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory and UNICEF’s conceptual framework of child undernutrition. Study one utilizes a qualitative approach to describe the food selection and dietary diversity, as well as what factors parents report as having an influence on their children’s diets. This paper seeks to develop a conceptual model, specific to rural living families in the Ecuadorian Amazon that will help inform future interventions and policies aimed at decreasing malnourishment and stunting rates in this area. Study two utilizes quantitative data to describe children’s growth status (i.e., stunting levels) and cognitive development, and explore the relationship between these two child outcomes and factors that may be influencing them such as dietary diversity, parental caregiving practices, socioeconomic status, parental mental health, income, and education. I will use the findings from study one and previous literature as a basis for including certain variables in the quantitative analyses. I will also use the factors parents describe in paper one and the subsequent model that will be derived to help interpret the results of study two .

Authors

• Kristin Murphy, Utah State University
  Presenting Author

• Lisa Boyce, Utah State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Eduardo Ortiz, Utah State University
  Non-Presenting Author