Food security, growth and vitamin A, hemoglobin and zinc levels of preschool children in the northeast of Brazil

This study sought to examine the association between the food (in)security and nutritional status of preschool children attended in daycare centers. Food security was assessed using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. The nutritional status was evaluated using the weight/height, weight/age, height/...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ciência & saude coletiva 2014-02, Vol.19 (2), p.641-650
Main Authors: Dixis Figueroa Pedraza, Daiane de Queiroz, Paiva, Adriana deAzevedo, Maria Auxiliadora Lins da Cunha, Zilka Nanes Lima
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Subjects:
Anemia
Food security
Hemoglobin
Nutritional status
Preschool children
Vitamin A
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Summary:This study sought to examine the association between the food (in)security and nutritional status of preschool children attended in daycare centers. Food security was assessed using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. The nutritional status was evaluated using the weight/height, weight/age, height/age, hemoglobin, serum retinol and serum zinc status. The prevalence of stunting (6.2%), overweight (3.1%), underweight (2.1%), vitamin A deficiency (24.4%), anemia (15.5%), and zinc deficiency (15%) was established. Food insecurity was found in 64.4% of the families, predominantly in its mild form (32.6%). This study concludes that food insecurity as measured by the EBIA was not associated with Z-score growth or with vitamin A, hemoglobin and zinc biochemical concentrations.
ISSN:1413-8123
1678-4561
DOI:10.1590/1413-81232014192.22612012