Relvas GRB, Buccini GDS, Venancio SI. Ultra-processed food consumption among infants in primary health care in a city of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil.
J Pediatr (Rio J) 2019;
95:584-592. [PMID:
29890116 DOI:
10.1016/j.jped.2018.05.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the prevalence of ultra-processed food intake among children under one year of age and to identify associated factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional design was employed. We interviewed 198 mothers of children aged between 6 and 12 months in primary healthcare units located in a city of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Specific foods consumed in the previous 24h of the interview were considered to evaluate the consumption of ultra-processed foods. Variables related to mothers' and children's characteristics as well as primary healthcare units were grouped into three blocks of increasingly proximal influence on the outcome. A Poisson regression analysis was performed following a statistical hierarchical modeling to determine factors associated with ultra-processed food intake.
RESULTS
The prevalence of ultra-processed food intake was 43.1%. Infants that were not being breastfed had a higher prevalence of ultra-processed food intake but no statistical significance was found. Lower maternal education (prevalence ratio 1.55 [1.08-2.24]) and the child's first appointment at the primary healthcare unit having happened after the first week of life (prevalence ratio 1.51 [1.01-2.27]) were factors associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
CONCLUSIONS
High consumption of ultra-processed foods among children under 1 year of age was found. Both maternal socioeconomic status and time until the child's first appointment at the primary healthcare unit were associated with the prevalence of ultra-processed food intake.
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