Introduction:

nutrition occupies a prominent place in Pediatrics, where attention to nutritional problems has varied over time.

Objective:

to evaluate the nutritional status of patients admitted to the Miscellaneous Ward at Pepe Portilla Pediatric Provincial Hospital, during the period from January to September 2018.

Methods:

an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. The target group comprised 62 hospitalized patients. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were met by 40 patients under 5 years old. Parents or tutors were interviewed and nutritional status was assessed. The results were collected in a data compilation form created for this purpose. Descriptive statistics was used, using absolute and relative frequencies.

Results:

children under 1-year-old 55 % and male sex 52,5 % predominated in the population studied. Breastfeeding and mixed or artificial milk prevailed in the first 6 months 62,5 %. The highest representation corresponded to normal weight patients of both sexes 42,8 % male and 57,9 % female. Anemia was present in 45 %, mainly due to iron deficiency.

Conclusions:

most of the children admitted to the miscellaneous ward were infants with adequate birth weight, breastfeeding and mixed or artificial milk in the first six months and they were taking nutritional supplements. Nutritional status was adequate regardless of sex and age. Iron deficiency anemia was present in one third of the children.

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