South American Research Journal, 4(1), 21-25
https://www.sa-rj.net/index.php/sarj/article/view/53
ISSN 2806-5638
respectively, seven days before the survey (Flores and
Congacha, 2021; Carrasco, 2019). This underscores the need
for specific and sustainable interventions to combat
malnutrition in these vulnerable communities.
the nutritional health and development of malnourished
children in this specific context.
METHODOLOGY
Lack of adequate care for these diseases can lead to
serious or even fatal complications. To mitigate childhood
malnutrition, it is essential to promote a balanced, diverse,
and nutrient-rich diet, including a variety of whole grains,
legumes, and vegetables (Melgarejo et al., 2022).
Nutritional supplementation and education programs have
proven effective in improving the nutritional status of
children in various regions (Martínez et al., 2023). The
nutritional health of children is intrinsically linked to their
growth and development throughout their lives, which must
be assessed considering the adequate weight and height
growth that results from balanced nutrition. Addressing this
issue is a challenge, since from gestation to five years of
age, one of the most critical stages in the physical and
neurocognitive development of individuals occurs (Lovera
and Cáceres, 2023). Early interventions are key to
preventing irreversible damage to child development
The design of this research was quantitative,
descriptive, and cross-sectional. The sample consisted
of eight nursing graduates from the Pediatrics Service
of a hospital in the Machala canton. The inclusion
criteria included only nursing graduates, excluding
nursing interns, nursing assistants, and doctors in the
area. The sampling was non-probabilistic for
convenience.
A
survey was applied with a questionnaire
previously validated by experts. The experts selected for
the validation of the questionnaire had experience in the
area of pediatrics and child nutrition, with at least five
years of clinical practice and postgraduate academic
training in these areas. A rubric based on criteria of
clarity, relevance, and pertinence of the items was used
to ensure the validity of the instrument.
The questionnaire included nine closed questions
with trichotomous answers (yes, no, and sometimes) and
one open question, which was subsequently coded. The
variables evaluated were education, collaborative work,
and care plan. Ethical aspects of the study were taken
into account; prior to data collection, permission was
requested through a letter from the competent authority
of the institution. In addition, participants signed an
informed consent to participate voluntarily.
Data protection was ensured by anonymizing the
questionnaires, secure storage in an encrypted database,
and restricted access only to the research team. The data
collected were tabulated and analyzed using the IBM
SPSS Statistics program version 26. During the
statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were used to
summarize the information and nonparametric tests
were used to identify significant differences between
the variables studied.
(
Hernández et al., 2023).
In contexts where childhood malnutrition is prevalent,
nurses frequently care for children with severe malnutrition
in their daily clinical practice. Their main objective is to
protect and improve the health of children, providing
adequate nutritional guidance to the pediatric population. In
addition, nurses prioritize providing essential care in
children's nutrition, offering assistance, education,
guidance, and training from a family and social perspective
of the child (Alulema et al., 2023). Implementing effective
educational strategies can empower families and
significantly improve nutritional outcomes (Melgarejo et
al., 2022).
A comprehensive approach to caring for malnourished
children is vital; this involves not only treating malnutrition
but also addressing underlying causes and any
comorbidities. Education for families and coordination with
other health professionals are crucial components of this
comprehensive approach (Cuenca and Meza, 2020). Studies
have shown that interprofessional collaboration improves
health outcomes in malnourished children (Guamialamá et
al., 2021).
Nursing interventions to treat malnutrition in children
include monitoring nutritional status, educating caregivers
about proper diet, and administering nutritional
supplements when necessary. Additionally, the nursing role
includes checking for possible complications such as
infections and digestive problems that are common in
malnourished children (Guanga et al., 2022). Continuous
training of nurses in malnutrition monitoring and
management techniques is essential to improve the quality
of care (Paz et al., 2022).
There is a lack of understanding and detailed
documentation about specific nursing interventions and
their impact on the recovery of severely malnourished
pediatric patients in the Pediatrics service of a hospital in
the Machala canton. Although the importance of the role of
nurses in the management of childhood malnutrition is
recognized, there is a lack of studies that comprehensively
evaluate how these interventions contribute to improving
RESULTS
Nursing plays a pivotal role in addressing pediatric
malnutrition by administering nutritional supplements,
educating parents and caregivers, and closely
monitoring patient responses. Nurses are also crucial in
ensuring that patients receive adequate nutrition and
collaborate extensively with the medical team to fulfill
all nutritional requirements.
As illustrated in Table 1, a significant majority of
the professionals surveyed are women. This high
proportion of female nursing staff mirrors broader
trends within the profession and may impact work
dynamics as well as interactions with patients and their
families. Regarding the age distribution, there is a
notable diversity among the staff, with 37.50% aged
between 35 and 40 years. This mix of different ages
brings together varied levels of experience and
perspectives, potentially enriching the implementation
of nutritional interventions and the adaptation to
innovative practices.
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