Estimation of the availability of iron in the school meals of Municipal Centers for Early Childhood Education of a capital city in northeastern Brazil.

The final stage of Fe deficiency is Fe deficiency anaemia, with repercussions for human health, especially in children under 5 years of age. Studies conducted in Brazilian public daycare centres show high prevalence of anaemia. The present study aims to evaluate the availability of Fe in the meals of the Municipal Centers of Early Childhood Education in Maceió. The experimental design comprises selection of algorithms, menu evaluation, calculation of the estimates, comparison between the estimates obtained and the recommendations, and analysis of correlation between meal constituents, and of the concordance between the absorbable Fe estimates. Four algorithms were selected and a monthly menu consisting of 22 d. The correlation analysis showed a moderate positive correlation to animal tissue (AT) v. non-heme iron (r = 0·42; P = 0·04), and negative to AT v. Ca (r = -0·54; P = 0·09) and Ca v. phytates (r = -0·46, P = 0·03). Estimates of absorbable Fe ranged from 0·23 to 0·44 mg/d. The amount of Fe available, unlike the total amount of Fe offered, does not meet the nutritional recommendations on most school days. The Bland-Altman analysis indicated that the Monsen and Balinfty and Rickard et al. showed greater agreement. The results confirm the need to adopt strategies to increase the availability of Fe in school meals.

Absence of breastfeeding on discharge from preterm infants: prevalence and associated factors

INTRODUCTION: Several strategies focused on providing healthcare to premature children have been implemented. Among them, one finds breastfeeding. OBJECTIVE: Investigating the prevalence of, and factors associated with, lack of premature newborn breastfeeding at hospital discharge. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with puerperal women and their preterm newborns in the public health network of Maceió, Brazil. Maternal information was obtained socioeconomic, obstetric, prenatal, and anthropometric data, through questionnaire application, where as information about newborns was collected in their medical records (gestational age at birth, sex, delivery method (vaginal birth or cesarean section), weight, and length at birth, and Apgar scores in the 1st and 5th minute of life), as well as information about the practice of breastfeeding at hospital discharge time. Poisson regression analysis in a hierarchical model was carried out to identify factors associated with the outcome of interest. Results were expressed in Prevalence Ratio (PR) and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: 381 dyads were evaluated, 167 (43.8%) of them were not breastfeeding at hospital discharge time. Clinical complications observed in newborns (PR=2.20 95%CI 1.73-2.80), late postpartum contact between mother and child (PR=1.76 95%CI 1.34-2.31), low Apgar in the 1st minute of life (PR=1.44 95%CI 1.15-1.82), and small premature newborn (gestational age at birth <34 weeks) (PR=1.48 95%CI 1.18-1.84) were the factors associated with lack of breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: Lack of premature newborn breastfeeding at hospital discharge time was often observed in the current study and associated with birth-relevant factors.

INTRODUÇÃO: Diversas estratégias têm sido implementadas com enfoque na assistência à saúde da criança prematura, sendo a amamentação umas delas. OBJETIVO: Identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados à ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar de recém-nascidos prematuros. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado na rede pública de saúde de Maceió, Brasil com puérperas e seus recém-nascidos pré-termos. Foram obtidas informações maternas sobre dados socioeconômicos, obstétricos, de pré-natal e antropométricos, por meio de questionário, informações dos recém-nascidos via consulta aos prontuários médicos (idade gestacional ao nascer, sexo da criança, via de parto (vaginal ou cesariana), peso e comprimento ao nascimento e índices de Apgar no 1º e 5º minutos de vida) e sobre a prática do aleitamento materno no momento da alta hospitalar. Análise de regressão de Poisson em modelo hierarquizado foi realizada para identificação dos fatores associados ao desfecho de interesse, com os valores expressos em Razão de Prevalência (RP) e respectivos Intervalos de Confiança de 95% (IC95%). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 381 díades, das quais 167 (43,8%) não estavam em aleitamento materno no momento da alta hospitalar. Intercorrências clínicas no recém-nascido (RP=2,20, IC95% 1,73-2,80), contato tardio entre mãe e filho no pós-parto (RP=1,76 IC95% 1,34-2,31), baixo Apgar no 1º minuto (RP=1,44 IC95% 1,15-1,82) e ter idade gestacional ao nascer < 34 semanas (RP=1,48 IC95% 1,18-1,84) foram fatores associados à ausência do aleitamento materno. CONCLUSÃO: A ausência de aleitamento materno na alta hospitalar de recém-nascidos prematuros foi frequente, estando associada a fatores pertinentes ao nascimento.