Graciete Oliveira Vieira

Child feeding and diarrhea morbidity

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the protective role of breastfeeding against diarrhea in children younger than one year of age in the city of Feira de Santana, Brazil, in 2001. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out. Questionnaires were applied to mothers by 104 university students on the national vaccination day in 44 health units (71.0%) selected by simple stratification. 2,319 children were evaluated (24.3% of the estimated population). The prevalence ratio was calculated and considered significant if p< or =0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Diarrhea occurred in 11.6% of the sample, with greater frequency after the sixth month (63.3%). The chance for presenting diarrhea was 64% higher in children younger than six months who were not breastfed vs. breastfed children (p<0.02). When compared to the children who were exclusively breastfed, the chance for presenting diarrhea increased to 82% in children who were not breastfed (95% CI 1.11-3.01). CONCLUSIONS Breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding were a protective factor against diarrhea in the first six months of life.

Fatores preditivos da interrupção do aleitamento materno exclusivo no primeiro mês de lactação

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in the first month of lactation, in the city of Feira de Santana, Brazil. METHODS: Cohort study with follow-up of 1,309 mother-child pairs selected from all maternities in the municipality. Data were collected in hospital and in home visits during the first month of life. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between outcome and variables of interest. RESULTS: Lack of prior breastfeeding experience (PR 1.24; 95%CI 1.75-1.43), cracked nipples (PR 1.25; 95%CI 1.09-1.43), use of fixed breastfeeding schedules (PR 1.42; 95%CI 1.09-1.84) and pacifier use (PR 1.53; 95%CI 1.34-1.76) were identified as factors predicting discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: Measures to prevent early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding must focus on women without breastfeeding experience and include prevention of nipple trauma, encourage breastfeeding on demand, and discourage the use of pacifiers.

Factors predicting early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in the first month of life.

OBJECTIVE To investigate factors associated with discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding in the first month of lactation, in the city of Feira de Santana, Brazil. METHODS Cohort study with follow-up of 1,309 mother-child pairs selected from all maternities in the municipality. Data were collected in hospital and in home visits during the first month of life. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between outcome and variables of interest. RESULTS Lack of prior breastfeeding experience (PR 1.24; 95%CI 1.75-1.43), cracked nipples (PR 1.25; 95%CI 1.09-1.43), use of fixed breastfeeding schedules (PR 1.42; 95%CI 1.09-1.84) and pacifier use (PR 1.53; 95%CI 1.34-1.76) were identified as factors predicting discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS Measures to prevent early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding must focus on women without breastfeeding experience and include prevention of nipple trauma, encourage breastfeeding on demand, and discourage the use of pacifiers.

Fatores determinantes do sobrepeso em crianças menores de 4 anos de idade

OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of and factors associated with overweight in children under 4 years of age in Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study nested within a birth cohort of 793 children born in Feira de Santana, Brazil. Independent variables were related to infant characteristics, social and demographic factors, maternal reproductive aspects, and diet of the child at age 4 months. The dependent variable was nutritional status, as assessed by weight-for-height ratio compared to Multicentre Growth Reference Study standards and obtained with the use of the software ANTHRO. Z-scores of -2 and +2 above or below the median for the reference population were established as normality cutoff points. Child height and weight were measured with an anthropometer and digital scales, respectively; all measurements were taken in triplicate. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (CEP/UEFS), under registration number 096/2006. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight was 12.5%. Adequate birth weight (RR 2.75; 95%CI 1.50-5.05), primiparity (RR 1.61; 95%CI 1.09-2.35), and maternal employment outside the home at age 4 months (RR 1.73; 95%CI 1.16-2.59) were associated with overweight. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, adequate birth weight, primiparity and maternal employment outside the home were associated with overweight in children. The rate of overweight found, which surpassed that reported by other studies conducted across the country (including Bahia), point to a risk of child obesity in Feira de Santana.

Determinants of overweight in children under 4 years of age

OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence of and factors associated with overweight in children under 4 years of age in Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil. METHODS Cross-sectional study nested within a birth cohort of 793 children born in Feira de Santana, Brazil. Independent variables were related to infant characteristics, social and demographic factors, maternal reproductive aspects, and diet of the child at age 4 months. The dependent variable was nutritional status, as assessed by weight-for-height ratio compared to Multicentre Growth Reference Study standards and obtained with the use of the software ANTHRO. Z-scores of -2 and +2 above or below the median for the reference population were established as normality cutoff points. Child height and weight were measured with an anthropometer and digital scales, respectively; all measurements were taken in triplicate. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (CEP/UEFS), under registration number 096/2006. RESULTS The prevalence of overweight was 12.5%. Adequate birth weight (RR 2.75; 95%CI 1.50-5.05), primiparity (RR 1.61; 95%CI 1.09-2.35), and maternal employment outside the home at age 4 months (RR 1.73; 95%CI 1.16-2.59) were associated with overweight. CONCLUSIONS In this study, adequate birth weight, primiparity and maternal employment outside the home were associated with overweight in children. The rate of overweight found, which surpassed that reported by other studies conducted across the country (including Bahia), point to a risk of child obesity in Feira de Santana.

Food consumption pattern and obesity in preschool children in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil

Objective To evaluate the association between food consumption patterns and obesity in preschool children in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Methods Cross-sectional, population-based nested within a live-birth cohort study of 813 children, which has started in 2004 in Feira de Santana, Bahia. The anthropometric status among children under four years of age was evaluated based on their body mass index; obesity/severe obesity was defined as a Z-score >+2. The Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to identify dietary patterns using principal components analysis. The association between obesity and food consumption patterns was assessed using Pearson’s Chi-squared test and logistic regression, adopting p<0.05 to denote statistical significance. Results Obesity was detected in 12.7% of the children investigated. Four food consumption patterns were identified: dietary pattern 1 (milk and other dairy products, vegetables and tubers, cereals, legumes, fruits, and fish); dietary