Introduction of complementary foods in infants.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze frequency, age and time trend of complementary feeding introduction in infants. METHODS: Retrospective study of infants' data evaluated at nutrition sector of Programa de Atenção aos Bebês of Programa Einstein na Comunidade de Paraisópolis from 2012 to 2015. Survival analyzes were performed, and the outcome considered was the time until the introduction of each specific food. RESULTS: Participants were 700 infants, with 5.5 months of median age. Water was the most consumed supplement (80.0%), followed by infant formula (64.1%) and juice (51.1%). Regarding the beginning of complementary feeding, water, infant formula and tea were the first to be introduced, with a median age of 3 months. It is noteworthy that almost one-fifth of the infants had already received processed foods. Water introduction proportions showed a significant tendency to increase over the years, and among infants at 6 months of age, varied from 72.8%, in 2012, to 91.1%, in 2015. The introduction of processed food category items presented a significant trend of change, showing, however, a reduction from 30.8%, in 2012, to 15.6%, in 2015, in this same age group. Among the processed foods, flour based thickeners (36.3%) and biscuits (26.3%) presented the highest proportions of consume. CONCLUSION: Water and infant formula were the most widely consumed and early introduced foods. Among the studied years, water introduction presented a significant tendency to increase and processed foods category to reduce consumption.

Introduction of complementary foods in infants / Introdução de alimentos complementares em lactentes

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze frequency, age and time trend of complementary feeding introduction in infants. Methods: Retrospective study of infants' data evaluated at nutrition sector of Programa de Atenção aos Bebês of Programa Einstein na Comunidade de Paraisópolis from 2012 to 2015. Survival analyzes were performed, and the outcome considered was the time until the introduction of each specific food. Results: Participants were 700 infants, with 5.5 months of median age. Water was the most consumed supplement (80.0%), followed by infant formula (64.1%) and juice (51.1%). Regarding the beginning of complementary feeding, water, infant formula and tea were the first to be introduced, with a median age of 3 months. It is noteworthy that almost one-fifth of the infants had already received processed foods. Water introduction proportions showed a significant tendency to increase over the years, and among infants at 6 months of age, varied from 72.8%, in 2012, to 91.1%, in 2015. The introduction of processed food category items presented a significant trend of change, showing, however, a reduction from 30.8%, in 2012, to 15.6%, in 2015, in this same age group. Among the processed foods, flour based thickeners (36.3%) and biscuits (26.3%) presented the highest proportions of consume. Conclusion: Water and infant formula were the most widely consumed and early introduced foods. Among the studied years, water introduction presented a significant tendency to increase and processed foods category to reduce consumption.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a frequência, a idade e a tendência temporal da introdução da alimentação complementar em lactentes. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo dos dados de lactentes avaliados no setor de nutrição do Programa de Atenção aos Bebês do Programa Einstein na Comunidade de Paraisópolis entre os anos 2012 a 2015. Foram realizadas análises de sobrevivência, sendo que o desfecho considerado foi a idade até a introdução de cada alimento específico. Resultados: Foram avaliados 700 lactentes, com idade mediana de 5,5 meses. A água representou o complemento mais consumido (80,0%), seguida pela fórmula infantil (64,1%) e pelo suco (51,1%). Em relação ao início da alimentação complementar, água, fórmula infantil e chá foram os primeiros a serem introduzidos, com idade mediana de 3 meses. Destaca-se que quase um quinto dos lactentes já tinha recebido alimentos processados. A introdução da água apresentou tendência significativa de aumento ao longo dos anos, sendo que, entre os lactentes com 6 meses de idade, variou de 72,8%, em 2012, para 91,1%, em 2015. A introdução dos itens da categoria alimentos processados também apresentou tendência significativa de mudança, sendo, entretanto, de redução, variando de 30,8%, em 2012, para 15,6%, em 2015, nesta mesma faixa etária. Entre os alimentos processados, engrossantes (36,3%) e biscoitos (26,3%) apresentaram as maiores proporções de consumo. Conclusão: Água e fórmula infantil foram os alimentos mais consumidos e mais precocemente introduzidos. Entre os anos estudados, a introdução da água apresentou tendência significativa de aumento e a categoria alimentos processados de redução de consumo.