Maternal education and nutritional status in Merida, Mexico

Abstract

From September 2008 to December 2009, we analysed the association between maternal education (me) level and nutritional status (ne) regarding to height, waist circumference (WC) and sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (SumSkfs) in 835 individuals (443 girls and 392 boys) 9-17 years old living in Merida, Mexico, whose ne was evaluated using z scores for height-for-age, WC-for-age and SumSkfs-for-age. A socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to collect data on me and other socioeconomic variables. A one-way ANOVA indicated that the mean z-score values for height increased and those for SumSkfs decreased (p < 0.001 in both cases) as me level increased. High me level decreased odds for excessive WC (OR = 0.534, 95 % CI = 0.294-0.968, p = 0.039), and middle or high level decreased odds for stunting (OR = 0.289, 95 % CI = 0.145-0.575, p = 0.001, and OR = 0.221, 95 % CI = 0.111- 0.441, p = 0.001, respectively) and excessive SumSkfs (OR = 0.487, 95 % CI = 0.278-0.856, p = 0.012, and OR = 0.406, 95 % CI = 0.235-0.703, p = 0.001). In the sample, me protects against stunting and adiposity in a context where rates of stunting, overweight and obesity are alarming. The pathways by which me plays this role cannot be identified with this data set, but it may be an indicator of the socioeconomic status of mother’s family of origin and a factor that affects maternal behaviour.