Factors associated with nutritional status in infants attending public daycare centers in the municipality of Recife, PE, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional status of infants attending daycare centers in the Municipality of Recife and to verify its association with potential determinant factors. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study conducted with 321 infants in the age group of 6 to 30 months from August to October 2004. The nutritional status was assessed through length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length and body mass index-for-age using as reference pattern that of the World Health Organization. Multivariable linear regression analysis assessed the effect of maternal socioeconomic and demographical indicators, and child related variables on infant length-for-age. RESULTS: The percentages of malnutrition (Z score < -2) were found in 13.4%, 2.8%, 0.6% and 0.6% for length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length and body mass index-for-age, respectively. The final model of the linear multivariable regression analysis showed that the socioeconomic (type of roof and water supply) and child biological conditions (birthweight, age and hemoglobin concentration) were the variables that significantly influenced the variation of length-for-age, explaining 3.8% and 12.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among the studied variables, child biological factors had a higher influence in the variation of length-for-age than the socioeconomic ones.

Fatores associados ao estado nutricional em criancas de creches publicas do municipio de Recife, PE, Brasil / Factors associated with nutritional status in infants attending public daycare centers in the municipality of Recife, PE, Brazil

Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil nutricional de crianças frequentadoras de creches do município de Recife e identificar potenciais fatores determinantes. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal conduzido com 321 crianças de 6 a 30 meses no período de agosto a outubro de 2004. A classificação do estado nutricional foi realizada a partir dos índices comprimento/idade, peso/idade, peso/comprimento e de massa corpórea/idade, utilizando o padrão de referência da Organização Mundial da Saúde. A análise de regressão linear multivariada avaliou o efeito das condições socioeconômicas e demográficas maternas e relacionadas às crianças sobre o índice comprimento/idade. Resultados: O percentual de desnutrição (< -2 escores Z) foi de 13,4%, 2,8%, 0,6% e 0,6% para os índices comprimento/idade, peso/idade, peso/comprimento e de massa corpórea/idade, respectivamente. O modelo final da análise de regressão linear multivariada mostrou que as condições socioeconômicas (tipo de teto e abastecimento de água) e biológicas da criança (peso ao nascer, idade e concentração de hemoglobina) foram as variáveis que significantemente influenciaram a variação do índice comprimento/idade, explicando 3,8% e 12,8%, respectivamente. Conclusão: Entre as variáveis estudadas, os fatores biológicos da criança tiveram uma influência maior na variação do índice comprimento/idade do que as socioeconômicas. .

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of infants attending daycare centers in the Municipality of Recife and to verify its association with potential determinant factors. Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted with 321 infants in the age group of 6 to 30 months from August to October 2004. The nutritional status was assessed through length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length and body mass index-for-age using as reference pattern that of the World Health Organization. Multivariable linear regression analysis assessed the effect of maternal socioeconomic and demographical indicators, and child related variables on infant length-for-age. Results: The percentages of malnutrition (Z score < -2) were found in 13.4%, 2.8%, 0.6% and 0.6% for length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length and body mass index-for-age, respectively. The final model of the linear multivariable regression analysis showed that the socioeconomic (type of roof and water supply) and child biological conditions (birthweight, age and hemoglobin concentration) were the variables that significantly influenced the variation of length-for-age, explaining 3.8% and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Among the studied variables, child biological factors had a higher influence in the variation of length-for-age than the socioeconomic ones. .