Silveira VNDC, Padilha LL, Frota MTBA. Malnutrition and associated factors among quilombola children under 60 months of age in two cities of the state of Maranhão, Brazil.
CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2020;
25:2583-2594. [PMID:
32667542 DOI:
10.1590/1413-81232020257.21482018]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in children under 60 months of age living in quilombo remnant communities of two municipalities in the state of Maranhão and their associated factors.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study conducted with a sample of 372 children in August 2015. Socioeconomic, demographic, maternal and child information were collected. The anthropometry followed the one proposed by the World Health Organization. Height-for-age and weight-for-height rates were calculated using Anthro software version 3.2.2. Poisson regression was performed with a robust variance for the association of malnutrition with the studied variables, using Stata software version 14.0.
RESULTS
Child malnutrition was high for height-for-age (15.1%) and weight-for-height (7%). Children whose mothers had a short height (< 1.497 m) were more likely to have height-for-age deficits (p < 0.05). No variables were statistically associated with low weight-for-height.
CONCLUSION
Child malnutrition persists as a public health problem in vulnerable regions, and maternal factors such as low maternal height may explain the short stature of the children. The need for actions to address this nutritional deviation is pointed out.
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