FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW WEIGHT-FOR-AGE IN CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 21 MONTHS WHO ENROLLED ON THE GOVERNMENTAL FORTIFIED MILK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM IN 311 CITIES IN THE STATE OF SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

Ortelan, Naiá

INTRODUCTION: Children under five years, especially between six months and two years old, are at particular risk of low weight-for-age. The low weight-for-age in childhood is considered the main risk factor for death and the loss of years of productive life in low income countries. In December 1999, the “Vivaleite Project” was established in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to benefit children of low income families. The milk delivered had to be fluid, pasteurized, with minimal fat content of 3% and enriched with iron, vitamins A and D. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with low weight-for-age in children who entered the program, using data for the first weighing, before children were benefiting from it.

METHODS: Cohort study with data from 25,433 low income children aged 6 to 21 months, who enrolled on the governmental fortified milk distribution program “Vivaleite Project” from 2003 to 2008 in 311 cities in the state of Sao Paulo, with no report of health problems. The following variables were selected: Response- low weight-for-age (dichotomous,no=0|yes=1); Explanatories: breastfeeding at join, exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months, maternal marital status, maternal age, maternal employment status, birthweight, sex and their interaction birthweightXsex. It was used multiple logistic regression. The processing was performed using Stata 10.

RESULTS: The prevalence of having low weight-for-age was 3,3% (n=835). The model with each explanatory variable reveals that male (OR=1,47; CI95%=0,60-0,79) and having birthweight less than or equal to 2,500 grams (OR=6,25; 0,14-0,18) are statistically significant. The model with interaction shows that being female with birthweight greater than 2,500 grams (OR=0,68; 0,50-0,93) best protect against low weight-for-age.

CONCLUSIONS:

Low weight-for-age in low income children under 2 years was associated with being male and having birthweight less than or equal to 2500 grams.