ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Growth is a complex phenomenon that has in pediatric age special relevancy because it constitutes a fundamental indicator of nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate differences about weight analysis of infants aged 0-18 months depending on the population reference used. METHODS: This is a longitudinal weight and length study in a representative sample of 383 infants from Aragon since birth until 18 months of age. A descriptive analysis was realized and "z-scores" were calculated from five growth curves. Finally there was calculated the percentage of children who were staying above or under 2DS for weight depending on the standard used. RESULTS: 50.1% were males and 49.9% women. Weight and length of the children were higher in girls than in boys in all the ages (p<0.01). Major differences between weight z-score averages from standards were at 6 months and later. The percentage of children on a weight<2 DS ranged between 0.5 and one 3.3% at 18 months of age depending on the standard. CONCLUSION: Global differences exist when weight is evaluated in the same sample of infants up to 18 months of age depending on different population standards, as well as in the number of children who stay out of the limits of the normality with each of them.
Subject(s)
Body Weight/physiology , Body Height/physiology , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Nutritional Status , Reference Values , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
La lactancia materna (LM) es la mejor forma de alimentar al recién nacido y al lactante, ya que confiere una serie de beneficios tanto a corto como a largo plazo. Según recomienda la Organización Mundial de la Salud, la LM debe mantenerse durante los primeros 6 meses como alimento exclusivo, y a partir de este momento junto con la alimentación complementaria, mientras la madre y el niño deseen. Según los datos disponibles, el tiempo medio de mantenimiento de la LM en nuestro entorno no supera los 3-5 meses, el abandono precoz durante el primer mes de vida ocurre en un 30% de los casos y sólo en un 10-20% se mantiene a los 6 meses. Se revisan los factores de riesgo para la instauración y el mantenimiento de la LM, los momentos clave para la promoción de la LM desde las instituciones sanitarias y el tipo de medidas que son más efectivas. Asimismo, se presenta el Proyecto PALMA, que pretende evaluarla efectividad de un programa de intervención de apoyo multidisciplinario a la LM desde atención primaria en un grupo de lactantes frente a un grupo control (AU)
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed infants as the properties of breast milk confer many short and longer-term benefits. As recommended by the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding should continue throughout the first 6 months of life and, after this time, be accompanied by complementary feeding for as long as the mother and infant want. Data from our general population show that the mean duration of breastfeeding does not exceed 3-5 months, early cessation during the first month occurs in 30% of cases and only 10%-20% of the mother infantdyads maintain it up to 6 months. We review the risk factors for the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, the best moments to promote breastfeeding on the part of health institutions and the most effective actions. At the same time, we present the PALMA project, the purpose of which is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary intervention program to promote breastfeeding at the primary care level, comparing a group of infants with a control group (AU)
