Showing papers by "Universidade Federal de Pelotas published in 1986"

Risk factors for malnutrition in Brazilian children: the role of social and environmental variables

Abstract: The article reports the effects of several socioeconomic and environmental indicators on the nutritional status (stunting, underweight, and wasting) of a sample of 802 children aged 12-35.9 months in urban and rural areas of southern Brazil. Of the social variables studied, family income and father's education level were the two risk factors that showed the strongest associations with nutritional status. The mother's education level, employment status of the head of the family, number of siblings, and family's ethnic background also showed some degree of association, but these were less significant when family income was included in the analysis. Environmental variables, particularly the type of housing, degree of crowding, and type of sewage disposal, were also strongly associated with malnutrition. The effects of having access to piped or treated water were only apparent on stunting and wasting.

Breastfeeding and Socioeconomic Status in Southern Brazil

Abstract: Patterns of breastfeeding were studied in a cohort of 5 914 infants followed from birth in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. Overall, 92% of the babies commenced breastfeeding and 54% were still breastfed by 3 months of age. This proportion dropped to 30% by 6 months, 20% by 9 months, and 16% by 12 months. The prevalence of breastfeeding soon after birth, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age was studied according to socioeconomic status as measured by family income. Children from the poorest families were less likely to be breastfed from birth than those from the richest families (89% and 97%, respectively), and also showed lower prevalence of breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months. By the age of 12 months poor children showed the highest prevalence of breastfeeding.

Child malnutrition and land ownership in Southern Brazil

Abstract: The geographical distribution of infant mortality rates (IMRs) in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul follows closely the pattern of land tenure, with high IMRs in districts of large ranches and lower rates in districts of small fanns. A household anthropometric survey of 802 children aged 12 to 35.9 months living in two districts with contrasting IMRs and land tenure patterns revealed that prevalences of protein‐energy malnutrition were consistent with these differentials. The survey showed that children in the district with large ranches were more likely to present with stunting, wasting and underweight than those in the small‐farms district. When the analysis was restricted to rural children, these differentials were even wider — 4‐fold for length for age and 13‐fold for weight for age. Children of labourers were more likely to be malnourished than those of landowners, while children of sharecroppers presented intermediate levels. On the other hand, among children of landowners, there was no assoc...