COMPLEMENTARY FOODS FOR INFANTS ATTENDED IN A FAMILY HEALTH CENTER IN THE NORTH EAST OF BRAZIL

• Main Authors: Edcarla da Silva de Oliveira, Veridianne Vasconcelos Ponte Viana, Thábyta Silva Araújo, Mariana Cavalcante Martins, Maria Vera Lúcia Moreira Leitão Cardoso, Luisa Maria Oliveira Pinto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2018-03-01
• Series: Cogitare Enfermagem
• Subjects: Nursing; Complementary Feeding; Infant; Health Education; Infant Nutrition
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v23i1.51220

Objectives: To identify the offering of complementary foods to children aged below two years old, and the conformity of this with the Ministry of Health’s recommendations. Method: a study undertaken with 52 children in a Primary Healthcare Center in the North East of Brazil, between December 2015 and February 2016. Interviews were held with the mothers, who were given a socioeconomic questionnaire which was also related to the children’s dietary profile. The data were analyzed using the statistical program R®. The foods consumed were classified as either “not appropriate” or “appropriate”, according to the Ministry of Health. Results: of the children older than one year, one (3.3%) was receiving complementary breastfeeding, while those younger than one year old (n=22/100%) were eating baby porridge (‘mingau’*) and 20 (90.9%) had already drunk soda. Soda, mingau, salted snacks and cookies were the foods consumed most. “Inappropriate” food was prevalent in the children younger than one year old. Conclusion: most of the food given consisted of industrialized products, and is thus a problem of food insecurity for the study population.