Risk factors for protein-energy malnutrition in pre-school shantytown children in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic malnutrition was 41.6% according to Gomez, 36.6% according to Waterlow, and 17.6% according to WHO. Risk factors for malnutrition, according to the weight-for-age index, included birthweight, presence of upper respiratory tract infections, number of pregnancies, number of births, maternal body mass index, birthplace of father, and home building material; according to the weight-for-height index, they included birthweight and maternal age at the time of birth; and according to the height-for-age index, they included the number of prenatal medical visits, birthweight, maternal height, maternal body mass index, father's employment being unregistered, and maternal birthplace. An instrument for identifying children at risk of malnutrition was devised from these major risk factors for future malnutrition, which may then be applied to newly-born children.

Determinants of early cognitive development: hierarchical analysis of a longitudinal study

“…Nutritional studies in Brazil have focused on biological and social determinants (both proximal and distal) of children's nutritional status 5,12,42,43 without attempting to explore any associations with their cognitive development.…”

Characteristics of severely malnourished under‐five children hospitalized with diarrhoea, and their policy implications

“…Few studies have reported the differences in the socio‐economic characteristics such as poverty, illiteracy and prevalence of infectious diseases, e.g. diarrhoea and acute respiratory infection between severely malnourished and non‐severely malnourished children (7,9). Some other studies have reported strong relationship between nutritional status of children and level of education of their mothers (8,10).…”

Anemia ferropriva e estado nutricional de crianças de creches de Guaxupé

“…Da mesma forma, esse percentual é menor do que o descrito para esta faixa etária, para a América Latina 23 (2,7%) e para o Brasil 24 (2,3%). Em 1998, em São Paulo, Ferrari et al 25 , em pesquisa envolvendo pré-escolares, encontraram prevalência de 0,4%, menor que os 2% encontrados na Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde e Nutrição 24 , em 1990. Assim, os resultados da antropometria demonstram que a baixa estatura e a desnutrição atual não significam problema para a população estudada.…”