Martha Cecilia Álvarez Uribe

Internal validity of a household food security scale is consistent among diverse populations participating in a food supplement program in Colombia

ObjectiveWe assessed the validity of a locally adapted Colombian Household Food Security Scale (CHFSS) used as a part of the 2006 evaluation of the food supplement component of the Plan for Improving Food and Nutrition in Antioquia, Colombia (MANA – Plan Departamental de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional de Antioquia).MethodsSubjects included low-income families with pre-school age children in MANA that responded affirmatively to at least one CHFSS item (n = 1,319). Rasch Modeling was used to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the items through measure and INFIT values. Differences in CHFSS performance were assessed by area of residency, socioeconomic status and number of children enrolled in MANA. Unidimensionality of a scale by group was further assessed using Differential Item Functioning (DIF).ResultsMost CHFSS items presented good fitness with most INFIT values within the adequate range of 0.8 to 1.2. Consistency in item measure values between groups was found for all but two items in the comparison by area of residency. Only two adult items exhibited DIF between urban and rural households.ConclusionThe results indicate that the adapted CHFSS is a valid tool to assess the household food security of participants in food assistance programs like MANA.

Velocidad media de ganancia de peso y estatura en niños de 2 A 10 años pertenecientes a familias del área rural del municipio de Marinilla-Antioquia, Colombia

BACKGROUND The objective of the present study was to evaluate the average growth rate (AGR) in 2 to 10 years old children (n = 259) belonging to rural families from the municipality of Marinilla (Colombia). The results will be taking into account in order to define public health polices aimed to improve the life quality conditions in rural communities. METHODS In a descriptive longitudinal prospective study a representative sample from rural horticulture families having children aged 2 to 10 years old were selected. The confidence interval, alpha error, and over sample were 95.5 and 20%, respectively. The AGR for weight and high were evaluated according to the method by Baumgarthner, and the results were compared with the Fels Longitudinal Study reference values. RESULTS For AGR for weight 26.8 and 28.9% of boys and girls classified in the lower 25 percentile, respectively: 60.9 and 62.8% within the 25 and 75 percentiles, and 12.3 and 8.2% in the upper percentile of boys and girls, respectively. On the other hand, for AGR for high 44.9 and 33.1% of boys and girls classified in the lower 25 percentile, 44.9 and 52.9% within the 25 and 75 percentiles, and 10.2 and 14.1% in the upper percentile of boys and girls, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These results showed that the AGR of children in this study could not overcome their delayed weight and high measures.Fundamento: El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la velocidad media de crecimiento de 259 ninos de 2 a 10 anos, pertenecientes a 150 familias rurales de Marinilla, Colombia. Metodos: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal prospectivo. En una muestra representativa de familias campesinas productoras de hortalizas y que tuvieran ninos de 2 a 10 anos, con una confianza del 95% y un error del 5% y un sobremuestreo del 20%. Para determinar la velocidad media de crecimiento en peso y estatura se utilizo la metodologia propuesta por Baumgartner RN y se comparo con las referencias procedentes del Fels Longitud Study. Resultados: El 26,8% de los ninos y el 28.9% de las ninas tuvieron una velocidad media de ganancia de peso 25 y 75 percentil. El 44,9 % de los ninos y el 33.1% de las ninas tuvieron una velocidad media de ganancia de estatura 25 y 75 percentil. Conclusiones: La VMC de los ninos en estudio no logra compensar el retraso de crecimiento en peso y estatura.