Associação entre desnutrição em crianças moradoras de favelas, estado nutricional materno e fatores socioambientais

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of malnutrition in children living in substandard settlements (favelas) of Maceió, Brazil, with maternal nutritional status and environmental conditions. Methods:Cross-sectional study involving a probability sample of 2,075 mothers (18 to 45 years) and their children (4 months to 6 years), living in the favelas of the city of Maceió. First, we conducted a cluster analysis with the purpose of choosing the settlements and the administrative region of the city of Maceió with the lowest human development index). After this analysis, the 7th Administrative Region was designated for the study, including its 23 substandard settlements. Socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric, and maternal and child health data were collected by means of household survey. The statistical analysis included the odds ratio of a child to be malnourished, and the univariate regression was used to check which maternal variables were associated with this malnutrition.Results: Chronic malnutrition (-2 standard deviations/height for age) was found in 8.6% of children and was associated with mother's age and educational level, type of residence, number of rooms, flooring, water supply, and low birth weight (< 2,500 g) in children aged ≤ 24 months. We also found an association between child malnutrition and maternal height. Such association was not observed regarding body mass index. Conclusions:The high prevalence of malnutrition observed in these settlements was related to social and environmental conditions and short maternal height, who had weight deficit or weight excess.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2010;86(3):215-220: Stunting, obesity, poverty.

Nutritional status of children under 5 years of age in the Brazilian Western Amazon before and after the Interoceanic highway paving: a population-based study

“…Other studies on the relation between social and environmental conditions and malnutrition in São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Maceió and Rio Grande do Sul also showed this association [31-34]. This relationship may result from the basic information on the importance of personal and household hygiene habits and practices of adequate nutrition for child growth and development.…”

Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in poor children from Mato Grosso do Sul

“…Although the reduction in malnutrition and underweight can be justified by the improved life conditions, the higher coverage of health, and the reduced fecundity, the evolution of excess weight was mainly caused by urbanization and its impact on dietary patterns and physical activities 23 . A study conducted by Silveira et al 21 found the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 11.3% of the residents of slums in Maceió. A study by Silva 9 , including 32,351 children aged from 5 to 10 years old, PBF beneficiaries in the state of Sergipe, 2010, found the prevalence of overweight to be 13.1% among girls and 13.3% among boys, and the prevalence of obesity to be 11.2% among girls and 14.5% among boys; in this study, the prevalence of overweight was 14.8% among girls and 16.1% among boys.…”

“…In Maceió (Alagoas), a study conducted among children (aged from 4 months to 6 years old), living in slums showed the prevalence of moderate and severe malnutrition to be 8.6% 21 . The Ministry of Health assessed the nourishment program with a sample composed of four cities in the Northeast, and the prevalence of underweight/height was 16.6% 22 .…”

Perfil socioeconômico, nutricional e de ingestão alimentar de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família

“…Os dados de desnutrição infantil observados foram superiores aos encontrados por Silveira et al (2010) ao avaliarem também crianças moradoras de favelas de Maceió, os quais encontraram uma prevalência de baixa estatura de 8,6%, e por Ferreira e Luciano (2010) que estudaram uma amostra probabilística da cidade de Maceió e do Estado de Alagoas e encontraram em crianças uma prevalência de déficit estatural de 6,2% e 10,4%, respectivamente. Os adolescentes também apresentaram uma alta taxa de desnutrição (20%).…”