Purpose: This study assessed the relationship between food security and prevalence of anemia in children under five years of age in the Apurímac Ene and Mantaro River Valley.
Methods: The study design was cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational, with a sample of 208 children younger than five years.
Results: Mild anemia was observed in 51.44%, moderate anemia in 28.37%, severe anemia 2.88%, and 17.31% did not have anemia. Highly significant relationships were found between: maternal age and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.01), maternal marital status and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.00), number of members in the family and prevalence of anemia ( P = 0.022), predominant material in the walls of the house and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.027), predominant material of the floors and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.000), type of energy used for cooking and prevalence of anemia P = 0.025), years fed breast milk and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.044), exclusive breastfeeding and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.02), knowledge of three foods that aid in the growth and prevalence of anemia P = 0.044), vaccinated and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.01), more than three fluid depositions per day and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.015), when diarrhea gives it equal, more or less fluids and prevalence of anemia (P = .045), handwashing and prevalence of anemia (P = .036), physiological needs and prevalence of anemia (P = .045), health and prevalence of anemia (P = 0.03), has a greenhouse and anemia prevalence (P = 0.00).
Significance: There are significant relationships between food security and prevalence of anemia in children under five years of age in the VRAEM.