Nutrición en acción: Estrategias de educación nutricional para padres y educadores en institución académica en la comuna de Cadeate, Santa Elena

Abstract

The project aims to design nutritional education strategies targeted at parents and educators of school-age children to promote healthy eating habits and prevent Chronic Child Malnutrition (CCM), through a multidimensional approach adapted to the needs of the Cadeate community, Santa Elena. The goal is to empower parents to promote health and nutrition in the home. The intervention is justified by the high rates of CCM in the area, influenced by limited access to food, education, and clean water. During the project’s development, volunteer parents were selected as participants, and their nutritional knowledge was assessed through surveys. Nutritional education strategies were implemented through interactive workshops and participatory methods, divided into different modules. The results showed a significant increase in parents' knowledge on the topics covered in the workshops, highlighting improvements in understanding chronic child malnutrition, the world of nutrition, food security, and the power of home-based growth. However, areas for improvement were identified. In conclusion, nutritional education strategies are an effective method to combat CCM, promoting healthy, long-lasting, replicable, and sustainable practices within the community. Keywords: Nutritional education strategies, Chronic Child Malnutrition, child nutrition, food security, healthy eating habits.