Disadvantaged pre-schoolers attending day care in Salvador, Northeast Brazil have a low prevalence of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the micronutrient status of disadvantaged pre-schoolers from Northeast Brazil, following the introduction of pro-poor policies, by assessing the prevalence of anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies and the role of sociodemographic factors, genetic Hb disorders and parasitic infections. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study, data on sociodemographic status, health, growth, genetic Hb disorders, parasites and nutrient supply from day-care meals were obtained. Fasting blood samples were collected and analysed for Hb, serum ferritin, transferrin receptor, folate, vitamin B12, retinol, Zn and Se. SETTING: Seven philanthropic day-care centres serving urban slums in Salvador, Northeast Brazil. SUBJECTS: Pre-schoolers aged 3-6 years from disadvantaged households. RESULTS: Of the 376 sampled children, 94 % were of black or mixed race; 33 % and 29 % had at least one genetic Hb disorder and intestinal parasite, respectively. Stunting and underweight were ≤5 %; 14 % were overweight. Day-care centres supplied micronutrient-dense meals and snacks each weekday. Less than 10 % of pre-schoolers had anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies. Predictors (P < 0·05) of Hb were α(3·7) thalassaemia, Se and retinol (but not ferritin). Micronutrient predictors (P < 0·05) were: elevated α1-glycoprotein for ferritin, Hb AS and BMI Z-score >1 for transferrin receptor, Zn and elevated α1-glycoprotein for retinol, sex and helminths for Se, helminths for vitamin B12, and Giardia intestinalis infection for serum folate. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired growth, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies were uncommon among these disadvantaged pre-schoolers attending day care. A range of interventions including provision of micronutrient-dense, fortified day-care meals, deworming and vitamin A supplementation likely contributed to improved micronutrient status, suggesting expanded coverage of these programmes.

Unequal burden of Zika-associated microcephaly among populations with public and private healthcare in Salvador, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the differences in clinical presentation and relative disease burden of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS)-associated microcephaly at 2 large hospitals in Salvador, Brazil that serve patients of different socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: Clinical and serologic data were collected prospectively from pregnant women and their infants, who delivered at 2 study centers during the 2015-2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Salvador, Brazil. RESULTS: Pregnant women from Salvador, Brazil delivering in a low SES hospital had 3 times higher ZIKV exposure rate than women at a high SES hospital. However, different SES hospitals had similar prevalence of infants with CZS-associated microcephaly (10% vs 6%, p = 0.16) after controlling for ZIKV exposure in their mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the positive association between low SES, high maternal ZIKV exposure, and high rates of CZS-associated microcephaly.

Maternal perceptions and self-perception of the nutritional status of children and adolescents from private schools.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare maternal perception and the self-perception of children/adolescents of their nutritional status, identifying factors associated with incorrect perceptions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in Salvador, BA, Brazil with 1,741 students aged 6 to 19 years, classified according to body mass index (BMI) percentiles as underweight (BMI < p5), well-nourished (p5 /= p95). Students and their mothers answered questions on perception of weight, patterns of physical exercise and dieting. By means of multivariate analysis, factors associated with incorrect maternal and self- perceptions were analyzed. RESULTS: Self-perceptions were correct in 64.7% of cases and 75.3% of maternal perceptions were correct. The principal factor associated with incorrect self-perception was age between 6 and 9 years (OR = 1.59; 95%CI 1.15-2.20). Among girls, being overweight and practicing physical exercise were characteristics associated with better perception. For boys, the presence of overweight resulted in an increased risk of incorrect self-perception. Among mothers, having an overweight child (OR = 3.02; 95%CI 2.05-4.46) and a child aged from 6 to 9 years (OR = 1.88; 95%CI 1.28-2.76) were associated with incorrect perception. CONCLUSIONS: A failure to correctly perceive weight was very frequent among children and their mothers, especially when children were overweight. These factors could represent obstacles to correctly recognizing nutritional abnormalities.

Predictors of linear growth in the first year of life of a prospective cohort of full term children with normal birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate covariates that could affect the variation in mean length/age z scores in the first year of life of children born full term with normal birth weight. METHODS: This was a prospective study of a cohort of mother-infant pairs recruited at public maternity units in two municipalities in the Brazilian state of Bahia, from March 2005 to October 2006. This paper reports the results for linear growth of 489 children who were followed-up for the first 12 months of their lives. A mixed-effect regression model was used to investigate the influence of covariates of mean length/age z score during the first year of life. RESULTS: The multivariate mixed effect analysis indicated that mothers not cohabiting with a partner (beta = 0.2347; p = 0.004) and increased duration of exclusive breastfeeding (beta = 0.0031; p < 0.001) had a positive impact, whereas mother's height less than 150 cm (beta = -0.4393; p < 0.001), birth weight of 2,500-2,999 g (beta = -0.8084; p < 0.001) and anemia in the child (beta = -0.0875; p < 0.001) all had a negative impact on the variation in estimated length/age z score. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the results of this study indicate that short maternal stature, birth weight < 3,000 g and anemia in the infant had a negative effect on linear growth during the first year of life, whereas longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding and mothers who did not cohabit with a partner had a positive effect.

Factors associated with rotavirus diarrhoea in children living in a socially diverse urban centre in Brazil.

A case-control study, aimed at identifying factors associated with rotavirus diarrhoea cases presenting to health facilities, was conducted in children from low-income and middle-low-income families in Brazil. Cases were 390 children with diarrhoea and rotavirus in stools; controls were 1674 children without diarrhoea presenting to the same facilities. Data were collected by questionnaire and observations during home visits. Explanatory variables were grouped according to a conceptual model of causation. The ORs by non-conditional logistic regression and population-attributable fractions were calculated. Socioeconomic factors contributed a third of cases, followed by contact with diarrhoea cases and by not being breast fed. In cases aged <1 year, not being breast fed was the main determinant, followed by socioeconomic factors, and crowding and contact outside the home; in older children, socioeconomic factors followed by contact inside and outside the home were the main determinants. Environmental and sanitation variables were not associated with diarrhoea in the final model, and socioeconomic factors were only partly mediated by proximal variables. Transmission of rotavirus appears to be mostly by person-to-person contact, and shows marked social differentials not explained by the biological factors studied. The rotavirus vaccine is unlikely to protect against the full range of circulating genotypes of rotavirus, and understanding rotavirus epidemiology remains essential to the development of control policies.

Comparison of yogurt, soybean, casein, and amino acid-based diets in children with persistent diarrhea.

Although previous studies have shown successful treatment of persistent diarrhea (PD) with the use of yogurt-based diets, some recent ones speculate the need of special formulas for the nutritional management of PD complicated cases. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the consumption of 3 lactose-free diets, with different degrees of complexity, is associated with lower stool output and shorter duration of diarrhea when compared with the use of a yogurt-based one on the nutritional management of PD. A total of 154 male infants, aged between 1 and 30 months, with PD and with or without dehydration, were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups. Throughout the study, the patients were placed in a metabolic unit; their body weights and intakes of oral rehydration solution, water, and formula diets, in addition to outputs of stool, urine, and vomit, were measured and recorded at 24-hour intervals. Four different diets were used in this study: diet 1, yogurt-based formula; diet 2, soy-based formula; diet 3, hydrolyzed protein-based formula; and diet 4, amino acid-based formula. Throughout the study, only these formula diets were fed to the children. The data showed that children fed the yogurt-based diet (diet 1) or the amino acid-based diet (diet 4) had a significant reduction in stool output and in the duration of diarrhea. The use of an inexpensive and worldwide-available yogurt-based diet is recommended as the first choice for the nutritional management of mild to moderate PD. For the few complicated PD cases, when available, a more complex amino acid-based diet should be reserved for the nutritional management of these unresponsive and severe presentations. Soy-based or casein-based diets do not offer any specific advantage or benefits and do not seem to have a place in the management of PD.

A hierarchical model for studying risk factors for childhood diarrhoea: a case-control study in a middle-income country.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with diarrhoea occurrence in children in a city in a middle-income country, with high access to water and sanitation. METHODS: A case-control study in the city of Salvador, north-eastern Brazil was conducted from November 2002 to August 2004. The study population consisted of children presenting at a health facility. A total of 1688 cases of diarrhoea and 1676 controls were selected. Data collection was by a questionnaire and structured observation during home visits. The explanatory variables were grouped according to a conceptual model defined previously. Analysis was done using a hierarchical approach, to provide a more dynamic view of the transmission characteristics of childhood diarrhoea. Non-conditional logistic regression was used, and odds ratio and population-attributable fractions were estimated. RESULTS: Socioeconomic factors contributed most to determining diarrhoea occurrence, followed by interpersonal contact, while factors related to food preparation, the environment and water and sanitation made a smaller contribution. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that the transmission of diarrhoea is influenced by factors from all hierarchical levels, with interpersonal transmission playing a relatively higher role than previously thought. This is compatible with a predominance of viruses and other agents spread by interpersonal routes including Shigella, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Diarrhoea control strategies in similar settings (middle-income countries in which a large proportion of the population has access to water and sanitation) must give greater emphasis to policies geared towards reducing person-to-person transmission for the prevention of diarrhoea.