HEALTH AND NUTRITION INDICATORS IN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN TWO YEARS: A REALITY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BRAZILIAN BREASTFEEDING AND COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING STRATEGY IN PRIMARY CARE IN GOVERNADOR VALADARES COUNTY-MG, BRAZIL

• Main Authors: Vinícius Vieira Benvindo, Áquila Agnes Dutra, Maria Aurea de Souza Menenguci, Nizia Araújo Vieira Almeida, Angélica Heringer Rodrigues, Pollyanna Costa Cardoso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Josely Correa Koury 2019-11-01
• Series: Demetra
• Subjects: atenção primária em saúde. aleitamento materno. alimentação complementar. lactente. educação em saúde.
• Online Access: https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br/index.php/demetra/article/view/43464

The aim of the current study is to analyze health and nutrition indicators in children younger than 2 years, who were treated in the primary healthcare service in Governador Valadares County - Minas Gerais State. It was done in order to substantiate the implementation of the Brazilian Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding Strategy (EAAB - Estratégia Amamenta e Alimenta Brasil). The public domain SISVAN – Web was used to survey the investigated indicators. Breastfeeding of 301 children younger than 6 months and the complementary feeding of 1,064 children in the age group 6-24 months were analyzed based on data collected in SISVAN Food Consumption Marker Forms. The nutritional status of 4,450 children younger than 2 years was analyzed based on the SISVAN anthropometric assessment protocol. Exclusive breastfeeding practice comprised one third of children in the age group 0-6 months. Food introduction was recorded for one-fifth of children in the age group 6-8 months. The following food consumption rates were recorded for children in the age group 6-24 months: continued breastfeeding (54%), iron-rich food (21%); sweetened drinks (41%); stuffed cookies and candies (35%); instant noodles and snacks (34%). Most children younger than 2 years were eutrophic; however, the risk of overweight development was identified in one third of these children, whereas approximately one fifth of them presented very short stature. It was possible concluding that the current scenario subsidizes efforts for EAAB implementation in the investigated county, since children younger than 6 months and children in the age group 6-24 months recorded unsatisfactory and disturbing values for the prevalence of exclusive and continued breastfeeding, respectively. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2019.43464