The influence of television on the food habits of schoolchildren and its association with dental caries.

OBJECTIVES: The consumption of food with a high-sugar content is encouraged by the food industry through television (TV) aimed at children and may be associated with dental caries. This study aims to evaluate the influence of TV on the food habits of schoolchildren aged years and its association with dental caries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an observational, epidemiological, and cross-sectional study. Five neighborhoods of Belem District were selected, and then two schools from each neighborhood were drawn (one private and one public). All sixth and seventh grade students were selected. Data were extracted from questionnaires completed by schoolchildren and their parents and the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT/dmft) indices of the schoolchildren. The indices were carried out by three examiners previously calibrated (κ > .80). Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association of variables of study with consumption of cariogenic foods and occurrence of dental caries. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Schoolchildren who watched TV for >90 min were more likely to consume cariogenic foods (OR = 2.38; 95% CI [1.57, 3.60]) and have a DMFT + dmft >1 (OR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.37, 3.26]). Those who consumed cariogenic foods while watching TV were more likely to have DMFT + dmft >1 (OR = 14.75; 95% CI [8.24, 6.40]). Parents who bought foods they saw on TV contributed to a higher consumption of cariogenic foods (OR = 3.29; 95% CI [2.07, 5.24]) and DMFT + dmft >1 (OR = 3.93; 95% CI [2.09, 7.37]) among their children. CONCLUSIONS: TV can influence the eating habits of schoolchildren aged 10 to 12 and the food purchases of their parents, stimulating the consumption of cariogenic foods and contributing to the development of dental caries.

Factors associated with feeding practices among Brazilian children aged 12 to 23 months old / Fatores associados à prática alimentar de crianças brasileiras de 12 a 23 meses de vida

Abstract Objectives: a quantitative analytical cross-sectional study aimed to identify demographic characteristics to access health services and housing conditions in relation to inadequate feeding practices among Brazilian children from 12 to 23 months of age. Methods: the analysis of the feeding practices (consumption of recommended food groups) of 2541 Brazilian children (aged 12-23 months old) was performed using data from the Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013 (National Health Survey). Descriptive and multivariate statistics used the Decision Tree Analysis based on CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector) algorithm, as well as hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed. The variables were entered in a hierarchical model at distal (demographic), intermediate (access to health) and proximal (housing conditions) levels. Results: the results showed a high prevalence of sugar consumption (85.5%; CI95%=83.7-87.2) and highlighted inadequate feeding practices among non-white children (p=0.001), resident in the North (p<0.001) and Northeast (p=0.010) of Brazil and in towns in the countryside (p<0.001) presented feeding practices that were not recommended for consumption in the food groups. Conclusions: non-white children, who lived in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil and in the countryside, which are known to be more socioeconomically vulnerable, were more likely to experience inadequate feeding practices.

Resumo Objetivos: estudo transversal analítico, de natureza quantitativa buscou identificar características demográficas, de acesso aos serviços de saúde e de condições de moradia relacionadas à prática alimentar de crianças brasileiras de 12 a 23 meses de vida. Métodos: a partir dos dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013, as práticas alimentares de 2541 crianças brasileiras de 12 a 23 meses, foram analisadas quanto à recomendação de consumo dos grupos alimentares. A análise das características associadas às práticas alimentares foi realizada pela árvore de decisão usando o algoritmo CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector) e análise de regressão de Poisson ajustada hierarquicamente. As variáveis foram inseridas em modelo hierárquico em níveis distal (demográficas), intermediário (acesso à saúde) e proximal (condições de moradia). Resultados: verificou-se uma alta prevalência no consumo de açúcar (85,5%; IC95%=83,7-87,2) e que crianças que não eram da cor branca (p=0,001), e residiam nas regiões Norte (p<0,001) e Nordeste (p=0,010) do país e em cidades do interior (p<0,001) apresentaram práticas alimentares que não atingem a recomendação de consumo dos distintos grupos alimentares. Conclusão: crianças que não eram da cor branca, residentes no Norte/Nordeste e no interior, áreas de maior vulnerabilidade do país, foram mais propensas à práticas alimentares inadequadas. Medidas para melhorar tais práticas devem abordar as desigualdades socioeconómicas e intervenções de promoção à saúde.