Alessandra Doumid Borges Pretto

Intenção de amamentar e de introdução de alimentação complementar de puérperas de um Hospital-Escola do sul do Brasil

O objetivo deste artigo e analisar a intencao de puerperas de amamentar e as perspectivas de introducao de alimentos complementares no primeiro ano de vida da crianca. Estudo transversal descritivo, realizado no Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (RS), de Setembro a Dezembro de 2010. Os dados foram obtidos atraves de um questionario padronizado, contemplando perguntas sobre fatores socioeconomicos, amamentacao e alimentacao complementar. Participaram 170 puerperas com idade media de 26,5 ± 5,8 anos. Dentre elas, 99% realizaram pre-natal, mas apenas 49% referiram ter recebido informacao sobre aleitamento materno e/ou alimentacao complementar nestas consultas. Todas as maes informaram pretender amamentar, sendo a media do aleitamento exclusivo pretendido de 5,5 ± 1,6 meses. As variaveis associadas a maior tempo de intencao de amamentacao foram maior escolaridade, nao trabalhar fora do lar, menor idade materna e ter recebido informacoes sobre amamentacao durante o pre-natal. Quanto a alimentacao complementar, caldo de feijao foi o alimento mais pretendido pelas maes para o primeiro ano de vida, com 99,41% de aceitacao, enquanto cha foi o de intencao mais precoce. O tempo de amamentacao exclusiva foi aquem do preconizado pela OMS e a alimentacao complementar mostrou-se equivocada.

Prevalence of factors associated to metabolic syndrome in a cohort of children in South Brazil

INTRODUCTION the Metabolic Syndrome is a group of disorders and it has gaining importance due to its association with the subsequent development of cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVES to determine the prevalence of risk factors associated to the metabolic syndrome in children from a cohort in Southern Brazil. METHODS a prospective cohort study with hospital screening of all births (2741) occurred from September 2002 to May 2003, monitoring a random sample of 30.0% at one, three and six months and eight years old. During the visit at the age of eight years, a questionnaire containing questions related to nutrition, physical activity and family history of chronic diseases. Also, weight, height and the waist circumference were measured. Descriptive and bivariate analyzes between independent variables and the outcome were performed. Results y discussion: from the 616 studied children, 51.3% were male, 70.3% had white, about half belonged to the economic class C, 20.5% were overweight and 16.9% were obese. There was high prevalence of family history for hypertension (81.5%), and was observed that 20.7% of the eutrophic children showed elevated waist circumference. CONCLUSION the high prevalence of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome found in the studied children reinforces the importance of proper medical history including family history. It is suggested to include the measurement of waist circumference in routine pediatric care.

Sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits in childhood:a cohort study

Worldwide, about 22 million children under five years old are overweight. Environmental factors are the main trigger for this epidemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the eating and physical activity habits in a cohort of eight-year-old children in Pelotas, Brazil. Eating habits were assessed based on the Ten Steps to Healthy Eating proposed by the Ministry of Health. To assess the level of physical activity, the physical activity questionnaire for children and adolescents (PAQ-C) was used. Of the 616 interviewed children at 8 years, it was observed that 50.3% were male; 70.3% were white and just over half belonged to economic class C. None of the children were classified as very active and none acceded to a daily consumption of six servings of the cereals, tubers, and roots. The steps that had higher adhesion were 8 (do not add salt to ready foods); 4 (consumption of beans, at least 5 times per week) and 1 (have 3 meals and 2 snacks per day), respectively. The high prevalence of physical inactivity and low level of healthy eating habits confirm the importance of strategies to support and encourage the practice of physical activity and healthy eating among youth.

Prevalence of factors related to the bone mass formation of children from a cohort in Southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION The amount of bone mass acquired in the early stages of life is an important determinant of its peak and future risk of osteoporosis and fractures. OBJECTIVE To describe the prevalence of factors that contributes to the formation of bone mass in children of a Southern Brazil cohort. METHODS A retrospective cohort study with hospital screening of all births (2741) occurred from September/ 2002 to May/2003 and monitoring of a random sample of 30.0% of these (one, three and six months and eight years old). During the eight years old visit, a questionnaire containing questions related to food and physical activity was applied. Results e Discussion: Of the 616 children studied, 51.3% were male, 70.3% Caucasian, about half belonged to economic class C, 20.5% were overweight, 16.9% were obese and 71.2% were sedentary. As for food intake low consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, cereals and tubers was noticed. Vitamin D administration in the first six months of life was followed by 14.1% of premature, 16.1% of infants with low birth weight, 24.2% of weaned in the first month and only 16.4% at three months. CONCLUSION The evaluated children have low nutrients consumption, including calcium, inappropriate vitamin D administration in the first semester of life, little regular physical activity and high prevalence of overweight and obesity are factors that can impair the formation of bone mass.