NUTRITIONAL STATUS, CLINICAL SIGNALS OF NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AMONG CHILDREN FROM THE SEMI-ARID REGION OF PARAIBA

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the anthropometric nutritional status and clinical signs of nutritional deficiencies by social vulnerability status of children aged 0-9 years enrolled in day care centers and municipal public schools in the city of Cuité, Paraíba. Methods: A cross-sectional study with the convenience sample composed by 629 children. Family social information was collected and classified according to the poverty line. Anthropometric measurements were performed and nutritional semiology was performed to determine nutritional status. Results: The prevalence of overweight children prevailed underweight children between both of income groups analyzed. It was possible to verify the presence of 3 to 5 signals of clinical alterations related with nutritional deficiencies in about 20% of children who live in families above and below the poverty line. However, It was verified that children who show from 3 to 5 deficiency signs and are included in families who live below the poverty line presented higher weight deficit percentage (19,5%) than overweight (15,6%). For children from families who live above the poverty line with the same clinical alterations, the prevalence of overweight (20%) was significantly higher than underweight (8,9%), proving that the presence of signs of nutritional deficiencies are also present in children with opposite weight characteristics. Conclusion: Therefore, for different conditions of social vulnerability, it is possible to perceive the presence of a double burden of diseases derived from eating habits: The overweight and the deficiency of specific nutrients, typical characteristics from the contemporary process of the Brazilian nutritional transition. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2016.20064

Keywords

• estado nutricional. deficiências nutricionais. crianças. pobreza.