Introduction:

malnutrition is the entity with the highest prevalence worldwide and one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality during childhood all over the world. Different risk factors are recognized in its pathogenesis.

Objective:

to characterize the determining factors in child malnutrition in patients from 0 to 6 years old in San Juan y Martinez municipality during the year 2020.

Methods:

observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out in a sample of 60 malnourished children, chosen by simple random sampling and who met the inclusion criteria. The application of a survey allowed the collection of information that responded to the variables studied. For the analysis of the results, descriptive statistical methods such as absolute and relative frequencies were applied.

Results:

the age group from 1 to 2 years predominated (41,67 %). Duration of exclusive breastfeeding of less than three months (51,6 %), inadequate complementary feeding (65 %), and short inter-gestational period (56,67 %) were identified as determining factors in child malnutrition. Normal-birth-weight children predominated (71,67 %).

Conclusions:

exclusive breastfeeding of less than three months, inadequate complementary feeding and short inter-gestational period influenced on the appearance of infant malnutrition in this population group.

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