Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Currently, many public health issues are directly related to malnutrition, and are made worse by social inequities. Nutrition professionals must be a key player in improving epidemiological aspects of nutrition-related diseases and must be part of clinical teams to control nutritional concerns.
OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the nutritionists´ employment situation in Ecuador and areas of work covered and determine if type of university has an impact over work situation.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, approved by the ethics committee of Universidad San Francisco de Quito. It included 442 nutritionists in Ecuador who graduated in 13 universities (5 private (PR) and 8 public (PU)) between 2008 and 2019. It implied an online survey that questioned their satisfaction with their education and current work situation. All the statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.3, two-sided weighted chi-square test was performed to estimate the difference between public and private university graduates, IC 95%, p between 0.01 and 0.05.
RESULTS: 38,6% of participants are unemployed, 68,28% private university graduates (PR) are currently employed and 58.87% work as nutritionists, compared to 56,86% from a public university (PU) currently working and 44.69% working in the field. 76% have reported being unemployed at some point in their careers, being difficulty finding jobs the main reason. Regarding the professional field, most professionals have their own business, and the less common area of work was public and community nutrition. One third of the participants had another paid activity. The main salary is 800USD per month and graduated from PR perceived better salaries than from PU.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of job opportunities for Ecuadorian nutritionists despite the high demand in every level of the health system. Most have been unemployed at some point in their careers due to difficulties finding jobs. There is a minimum nutrition staff working in community and public health nutrition.
OBJECTIVE: To identify and analyze the nutritionists´ employment situation in Ecuador and areas of work covered and determine if type of university has an impact over work situation.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, approved by the ethics committee of Universidad San Francisco de Quito. It included 442 nutritionists in Ecuador who graduated in 13 universities (5 private (PR) and 8 public (PU)) between 2008 and 2019. It implied an online survey that questioned their satisfaction with their education and current work situation. All the statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.0.3, two-sided weighted chi-square test was performed to estimate the difference between public and private university graduates, IC 95%, p between 0.01 and 0.05.
RESULTS: 38,6% of participants are unemployed, 68,28% private university graduates (PR) are currently employed and 58.87% work as nutritionists, compared to 56,86% from a public university (PU) currently working and 44.69% working in the field. 76% have reported being unemployed at some point in their careers, being difficulty finding jobs the main reason. Regarding the professional field, most professionals have their own business, and the less common area of work was public and community nutrition. One third of the participants had another paid activity. The main salary is 800USD per month and graduated from PR perceived better salaries than from PU.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of job opportunities for Ecuadorian nutritionists despite the high demand in every level of the health system. Most have been unemployed at some point in their careers due to difficulties finding jobs. There is a minimum nutrition staff working in community and public health nutrition.
摘要：
背景：目前，许多公共卫生问题与营养不良直接相关，并因社会不平等而变得更糟。营养专业人员必须是改善营养相关疾病流行病学方面的关键角色，并且必须成为控制营养问题的临床团队的一部分。
目的：确定和分析厄瓜多尔营养学家的就业状况以及所涵盖的工作领域，并确定大学类型是否会对工作状况产生影响。
方法：进行了横断面研究，经旧金山基多大学伦理委员会批准。其中包括442名厄瓜多尔营养学家，他们在2008年至2019年期间毕业于13所大学（5所私立（PR）和8所公立（PU））。这暗示了一项在线调查，质疑他们对教育和当前工作状况的满意度。所有统计分析均采用R版本4.0.3，双侧加权卡方检验估计公立和私立大学毕业生之间的差异。IC95%,P在0.01和0.05之间。
结果：38,6％的参与者失业，目前有68,28％的私立大学毕业生（PR）就业，58.87％的营养师工作，相比之下，目前在公立大学（PU）工作的比例为56,86％，在该领域工作的比例为44.69％。76%的人报告说在职业生涯的某个时候失业，很难找到工作的主要原因。关于专业领域，大多数专业人士都有自己的生意，较不常见的工作领域是公共和社区营养。三分之一的参与者有另一项有偿活动。主要工资是每月800美元，毕业于公关认为比PU更好的工资。
结论：厄瓜多尔营养学家缺乏工作机会，尽管卫生系统的各个层面都有很高的需求。由于找工作困难，大多数人在职业生涯的某个时候失业。在社区和公共卫生营养方面有最少的营养人员。
目的：确定和分析厄瓜多尔营养学家的就业状况以及所涵盖的工作领域，并确定大学类型是否会对工作状况产生影响。
方法：进行了横断面研究，经旧金山基多大学伦理委员会批准。其中包括442名厄瓜多尔营养学家，他们在2008年至2019年期间毕业于13所大学（5所私立（PR）和8所公立（PU））。这暗示了一项在线调查，质疑他们对教育和当前工作状况的满意度。所有统计分析均采用R版本4.0.3，双侧加权卡方检验估计公立和私立大学毕业生之间的差异。IC95%,P在0.01和0.05之间。
结果：38,6％的参与者失业，目前有68,28％的私立大学毕业生（PR）就业，58.87％的营养师工作，相比之下，目前在公立大学（PU）工作的比例为56,86％，在该领域工作的比例为44.69％。76%的人报告说在职业生涯的某个时候失业，很难找到工作的主要原因。关于专业领域，大多数专业人士都有自己的生意，较不常见的工作领域是公共和社区营养。三分之一的参与者有另一项有偿活动。主要工资是每月800美元，毕业于公关认为比PU更好的工资。
结论：厄瓜多尔营养学家缺乏工作机会，尽管卫生系统的各个层面都有很高的需求。由于找工作困难，大多数人在职业生涯的某个时候失业。在社区和公共卫生营养方面有最少的营养人员。
