Child malnutrition in Santa Elena: a multidimensional view

Abstract

Child malnutrition is a social problem that affects people’s capacities. The objective of this research is to analyze child malnutrition in Santa Elena, where chronic malnutrition reaches 37%, being the only province in the coastal region that exceeds the national average, and overweight and obesity affect around 6.5 %, which is below the national average. In this sense, the case of Santa Elena is an atypical case in relation to child malnutrition. The methodology is qualitative, using an analytical scheme that combines the capabilities approach of Amartya Sen, through the conversion factors, and the theory of the Boltanski conventions, through the cities of greatness; uses primary information gathered from observation, focus groups and in-depth interviews, and secondary information from documents related to the topic. Among the main results is that child malnutrition in Santa Elena is related to limitations in environmental, social, personal factors and changes in the conventions.