[Nutritional status and social determinants of child height in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, Southern Brazil]. / Estado nutricional e fatores associados à estatura de crianças da Terra Indígena Guarita, Sul do Brasil.

The nutritional status of under-five children and the association between social conditions and child stature were examined using data from the program to control malnutrition and mortality in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, southern Brazil, 2001-2002. Anthropometric indices were calculated in z-scores of the CDC 2000 reference. At entrance into the program, 34.7% of the children presented stunting, 12.9% low weight for age, 4.2% wasting, and 8.7% overweight. Stunting was most prevalent among boys and children older than one year. Multivariate linear regression showed that, on average, children were shorter when the drinking water was collected directly in the environment (p = 0.046), there was no refrigerator for food preservation (p = 0.021), maternal age was less than 16 years at the birth of the oldest child among the under-fives (p = 0.019), and the mother was illiterate (p = 0.083). Sewage facilities only had an effect on the unadjusted model. There was no evidence that the number of under-five children had an effect on stature. Social inclusion policies and health and social provision which takes these factors into account are potentially relevant for improving health and nutrition in this population.

High prevalence of anemia in children and adult women in an urban population in southern Brazil.

This population-based study was designed to detect the prevalence of anemia in a healthy population of children (18 months to 7 years) and women (14 to 30 years) tested in 2006-2007 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil as part of an effort to tackle this massive problem that still affects so many people in the XXI century. Anemia was defined according to the WHO. Capillary blood was measured and socioeconomic status was determined according to the Brazilian Association of Market Research Agencies. The median prevalence of anemia in 2198 children was 45.4% and in 1999 women 36.4%. Anemia decreased with age during childhood; although significantly more prevalent in lower classes individuals, it was also high in the upper classes. There are indirect evidences that the lack of iron supplementation and/or iron fortified food may play a role in it. Professionals and society wise measures of education have to be implemented in order to address possible biologic factors involved in childhood psychosocial development in southern Brazil.

Estado nutricional e fatores associados à estatura de criancas da Terra Indígena Guarita, Sul do Brasil / Nutritional status and social determinants of child height in the Guarita Indigenous Territory, Southern Brazil

O estado nutricional de criancas menores de cinco anos e fatores associados à estatura foram estudados usando dados de um programa para controle da desnutricão e mortalidade na Terra Indígena Guarita, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, 2001/2002. índices antropométricos foram calculados em escores-z da referência CDC/2000. Na primeira avaliacão pelo programa, 34,7 por cento, das criancas apresentavam baixa estatura, 12,9 por cento baixo peso para idade, 4,2 por cento baixo peso para estatura e 8,7 por cento sobrepeso. Baixa estatura foi mais prevalente em meninos e maiores de um ano. Modelos de regressão linear múltipla sugerem que a altura foi, em média, menor quando a água para alimentacão era de fonte/poco/rio (p = 0,046), não havia geladeira para conservar alimentos (p = 0,021), a mãe era menor de 16 anos ao nascimento do mais velho entre os filhos menores de cinco anos (p = 0,019) e analfabeta (p = 0,083). O destino dos dejetos evidenciou efeito apenas no modelo bruto. Não houve evidência de efeito do número de filhos menores de cinco anos. Políticas de inclusão social e provisão de recursos sociais e de saúde são potencialmente relevantes para a saúde e nutricão nessa populacão.

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade infantil em escolas públicas de Porto Alegre / Prevalence of overweight and childish fatness in public schools of Porto Alegre

É apresentada a análise de uma pesquisa realizada pela Secretaria Estadual da Saúde (SES), em algumas Escolas Públicas de Porto Alegre no 1° semestre de 2000 e no 1° Semestre de 2001 e que através da revisão bibliográfica buscou-se levantar questões importantes sobre o tema da obesidade infantil...