Erika Morganna Neves de Araujo

Estado nutricional e hábitos alimentares de escolares de Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil

Resumo Avaliou-se o estado nutricional e sua associacao com os habitos alimentares de criancas escolares que frequentam a rede publica de ensino do municipio de Campina Grande, Paraiba. Estudo transversal, realizado com 1081 criancas de 5 a 10 anos. Analisaram-se os indices antropometricos estatura/idade (E/I) e Indice de Massa Corporal/idade (IMC/I), e os habitos alimentares dos escolares. Verificaram-se prevalencias de deficit de estatura, sobrepeso e obesidade de 2,4%, 12,3% e 9,2%, respectivamente. O E/I apresentou-se com media inferior (p = 0,029) nas criancas que indicaram quase nunca tomar cafe da manha (-0,130 ± 1,053 Escore-z) em comparacao com as que faziam essa refeicao todas ou na maioria das vezes (0,183 ± 0,912 Escore-z), associacao similar foi observada quando a merenda escolar nao era consumida (p = 0,001). Para o IMC/I, criancas com habito de fazer todas as refeicoes apresentaram menor media (p = 0,034); resultado similar foi observado em relacao ao habito de tomar cafe da manha em que menor media foi constatada entre as criancas com esse costume (p = 0,020). Conclui-se que o estado nutricional dos escolares e marcado por altas taxas de sobrepeso/obesidade. Sugere-se que os prejuizos no estado nutricional estejam relacionados ao nao consumo do cafe da manha e da alimentacao oferecida na escola.

Índices antropométricos de crianças assistidas em creches e sua relação com fatores socioeconômicos, maternos e infantis

Weight/height and weight/age anthropometric statistics are important, respectively, for identifying incipient changes in weight and alterations in nutritional status at an early stage. The scope of this study was to analyze weight/height- and weight/age-associated factors in preschool children. This is a cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample scrutinizing 299 children enrolled in municipal daycare centers. Information was obtained through interviews with mothers together with a questionnaire analyzing socioeconomic, maternal and child information. Weight and height/stature of children were measured according to recommendations of the World Health Organization. The results showed that none of the maternal variables was associated with the nutritional status of children and that only birth weight among child variables revealed any association with weight/height (p = 0.0030) and weight/age scores (p = 0.0018). The block of socioeconomic variables, in turn, proved to be the most representative variation factor of results, especially in the weight/age index. The importance of birth weight in the weight/height and weight/age of children, as well as the socioeconomic conditions notably in weight/age indices, was clearly revealed.Weight/height and weight/age anthropometric statistics are important, respectively, for identifying incipient changes in weight and alterations in nutritional status at an early stage. The scope of this study was to analyze weight/height- and weight/age-associated factors in preschool children. This is a cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample scrutinizing 299 children enrolled in municipal daycare centers. Information was obtained through interviews with mothers together with a questionnaire analyzing socioeconomic, maternal and child information. Weight and height/stature of children were measured according to recommendations of the World Health Organization. The results showed that none of the maternal variables was associated with the nutritional status of children and that only birth weight among child variables revealed any association with weight/height (p = 0.0030) and weight/age scores (p = 0.0018). The block of socioeconomic variables, in turn, proved to be the most representative variation factor of results, especially in the weight/age index. The importance of birth weight in the weight/height and weight/age of children, as well as the socioeconomic conditions notably in weight/age indices, was clearly revealed.

Avaliação do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar: revisão da literatura

The National School Food Program (PNAE) constitutes an important strategy for the promotion of healthy eating. The objective was to perform a brief analysis of evaluative research on the PNAE. It involved a search of the literature from 2010 to 2015 in the Bireme and Scielo databases. Twelve articles were selected linked to the area, eight of which analyzed the insertion of the nutritionist in the PNAE; seven, to buy food from family farms; five, the implementation of School Food Councils; five, the compilation of menus; and four, funding destined for the PNAE. Problems in the performance of the nutritionist and the School Food Councils, on buying food from family farms and in the compilation of the menus (low fruit and vegetable content) were detected. The need for greater attention to execution of the PNAE was highlighted in order to ensure school food within guidelines that promote food and nutrition security. Further evaluation studies about the program are fundamental for the provision of subsidies to public managers for purposes of enhancing its implementation.The National School Food Program (PNAE) constitutes an important strategy for the promotion of healthy eating. The objective was to perform a brief analysis of evaluative research on the PNAE. It involved a search of the literature from 2010 to 2015 in the Bireme and Scielo databases. Twelve articles were selected linked to the area, eight of which analyzed the insertion of the nutritionist in the PNAE; seven, to buy food from family farms; five, the implementation of School Food Councils; five, the compilation of menus; and four, funding destined for the PNAE. Problems in the performance of the nutritionist and the School Food Councils, on buying food from family farms and in the compilation of the menus (low fruit and vegetable content) were detected. The need for greater attention to execution of the PNAE was highlighted in order to ensure school food within guidelines that promote food and nutrition security. Further evaluation studies about the program are fundamental for the provision of subsidies to public managers for purposes of enhancing its implementation.

Hospitalizations due to primary care-sensitive conditions among children under five years of age: cross-sectional study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Hospitalizations due to primary care-sensitive conditions constitute an important indicator for monitoring the quality of primary healthcare. This study aimed to describe hospitalizations due to primary care-sensitive conditions found among children under five years of age (according to their age and sex), in two cities in Paraíba, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study carried out in the municipalities of Cabedelo and Bayeux, in Paraíba, Brazil. METHODS: Data were collected from four public pediatric hospitals in Paraíba that receive children from these municipalities. Hospital admission authorizations were consulted to gather information on the childrens profile and the characteristics of their hospitalizations. Differences in the causes of admissions and the respective lengths of hospital stay length were analyzed according to age group and sex. RESULTS: The proportion of hospital admissions due to primary care-sensitive conditions was 82.4%. The most frequent causes were: bacterial pneumonia (59.38%), infectious gastroenteritis and its complications (23.59%) and kidney and urinary tract infection (9.67%). Boys had higher frequency of hospitalizations due to primary care-sensitive conditions than girls. The median hospitalization due to primary care-sensitive conditions was found to be four days. The duration of hospital stays due to primary care-sensitive conditions was significantly longer than those due to conditions that were not sensitive to primary care. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of hospital admissions due to primary care-sensitive conditions were highlighted, especially among children of male sex, with long periods of hospitalization.

Use of a child health surveillance instrument focusing on growth. A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Proper use of a child health handbook is an important indicator of the quality of care provided to children at healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate the use of child health surveillance tool (by health professionals?), especially focusing on growth. DESIGN AND SETTING Cross-sectional study carried out in the context of the Family Health Strategy in two municipalities in Paraíba, Brazil. METHODS Three hundred and twenty-one children under five years of age from areas covered by health workers were included in the study. Mothers answered a questionnaire asking for information on sociodemographic characteristics. Growth charts, records of iron and vitamin A supplementation and notes on immunization schedules registered in the instrument were analyzed. In the case of children for whom the third version of the child health handbook was used, the association between completion of this handbook and sociodemographic characteristics was analyzed. RESULTS All the parameters studied showed high frequencies of inadequate data entry, ranging from 41.1% for the weight-versus- age chart to 95.3% for the body mass index-versus-age chart. Higher frequency of inadequate data entry was found among children aged 25 months and over and among those living in areas of these municipalities with minimal numbers of professionals in the healthcare teams. CONCLUSIONS The use of a child health handbook to monitor childrens growth in the municipalities studied appeared to be faulty. Data entry to this instrument was better at locations with larger healthcare teams.

O programa nacional de alimentação escolar em escolas públicas municipais

Objective: To characterize the National School Feeding Program (Programa Nacional de Alimentacao Escolar – PNAE) in public schools considering structural and procedural aspects and the acceptance of school meals. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of PNAE in 18 public schools in the urban area of Campina Grande, Paraiba, involving information about 85 teachers, 18 school cooks and 1081 students. Aspects related to the structure, activities complementary to the program, the profile of school cooks, teachers’ knowledge about food and nutrition and acceptance of school meals were assessed using questionnaires and observation. Results: The structural conditions were rated as fair, with eight schools (44.44%) classified in this category. The refectory and the kitchen were pointed out as the most deficient areas. A deficit in activities complementary to the program was found; only two schools (11.11%) had school gardens and five (27.77%) developed health and nutrition activities. School cooks showed a profile suitable to the profession. Regarding teachers’ knowledge, the identification of nutritional characteristics of foods was the main failure observed. Rejection and nonadherence to school meals were estimated around 25% and 35% of the students, respectively. Conclusion: Structural and procedural failures in the implementation of PNAE need to be resolved in compliance with the current law. There are deficiencies in the refectory, in the kitchen and in the development of educational activities. In addition, school gardens were scarce. Improvements in these conditions can have a positive impact on acceptance and adherence to school meals by the students.