Factors associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables by schoolchildren: a comparative analysis between 2007 and 2012

Abstract

Objective Perform comparative analysis of adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables and their associated factors in schoolchildren. Methods Probabilistic samples representative of students of both sexes, 7 to 14 years old, from public and private schools in Florianópolis, SC were investigated in cross-sectional studies in 2007 (n=2,836) and 2012 (n=2,506). The exposure variables were: sex, age, family income per capita, mother’s education and school system. The outcome variable (fruit and vegetable consumption) was collected using the third validated version of the previous day’s food questionnaire. Using the Chi-Square test, exposure variables with a p-value <0.20 were eligible for analysis using crude and adjusted multiple logistic regression models. Exposure variables with p<0.05 were considered to be associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Results There were no significant differences in the adequate consumption between 2007 and 2012. While in 2007 the per capita family income was the only exposure variable associated, in 2012 only a mother with complete higher education was a protective factor for the adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables Conclusion Despite governmental strategies to stimulate the consumption of fruits and vegetables in Brazil, their results are still not perceptible, requiring more time for an evaluation of effectiveness

Neighborhood Availability and Use of Food, Physical Activity, and Social Services Facilities in Relation to Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

“…Adding 10% to this value due to possible losses or refusals, the final sample size was estimated to be 2880 schoolchildren. 29,33,34 The reached sample size is sufficient to find odds ratio (OR) higher than 1.5 with a power of 80%, and an α-error of 5%. The sample was selected by clusters and according to the number of students enrolled in each school.…”

“…The sampling method has been described in greater detail elsewhere. 29,34 From this sample, 4.2% (n ¼ 104) did not live in Florianópolis; 4.7% (n ¼ 117) did not inform their residential addresses; 1.5% (n ¼ 37) were not found in the geocoding location; and 0.8% (n ¼ 20) did not have valid data on the outcome measure. The total number of schoolchildren included in this analysis was 2206 (88.8% of the initial sample investigated).…”