Early child health in an informal settlement in the Peruvian Amazon. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Gwenyth; Paredes Olortegui, Maribel; Salmón-Mulanovich, Gabriela; Peñataro Yori, Pablo; Kosek, Margaret
• Is Part Of: BMC international health and human rights. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Peru -- Informal settlement -- Child health -- Height-for-age -- Natural experiment; Medical care -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Human rights -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 362.1091724
• DOI: 10.1186/s12914-016-0099-6
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-698X

Abstract

Abstract Background Informal settlements are common throughout the developing world. In Peru, land occupations, commonly "invasions" in Spanish, are a means by which the extremely poor attempt to obtain access to land. Here, we examine difference in child health between two communities in the Peruvian Amazon, one well-established and one newly formed by 'invasion', as captured incidentally by a prospective epidemiological cohort study. Methods Between 2002 and 2006 a study designed to describe the epidemiology of pediatric enteric infections and child growth in a community-based setting enrolled 442 children inSanta Clara de Nanay, a community adjacent to the city ofIquitos, in Loreto, Peru. In early 2003, a land occupation, commonly called an "invasion" in Spanish, was organized by members of the Santa Clara community, and approximately 20 % of participating study families began occupying privately owned agricultural land adjacent toSanta Clara, thus forming the new community ofLa Union . Results Parents in families that chose to invade reported less education than parents in families that chose not to. Children in the new community experienced a higher incidence of diarrheal disease and non-specific fevers, although fewer helminth infections, than children who remained in the established community. At the time of the invasion, there were no differences in anthropometric status between the two groups; however children in the new community experienced greater progressive growth faltering over the course of the longitudinal study. Conclusions Growth faltering in early childhood represents an enduring loss of human potential. Therefore, our data suggests the human cost of land invasion may be disproportionately borne by the youngest individuals. Innovative policy strategies may be needed to protect this vulnerable group.