[Breast-feeding during the first month of life in Cordoba city, Argentina]. / Comportamiento de la lactancia en el primer mes de vida en la ciudad de Córdoba, Argentina.

In the foregoing investigation breast-feeding during the first 30 days of life was studied in a representative sample of 620 babies born and settled down in the city of Cordoba Argentina. To analyse this information, the classification of breastfeeding suggested by the WHO/UNICEF was used. The results reveal that being a month old, 26% of the babies had complete breastfeeding 60% had partial breastfeeding and the remaining 14% did not have it at all. Among the children with complete breast-feeding, 21% was exclusive and 5% was prevailing. 18% of the babies were exposed to breastfeeding before an hour and a half after they were born, the average number of nursings a day was 7.3 (D.S. 1.9) taking less than 15 minutes to reach the 57%; and with a free-demanding timetable in 44%. The children with partial breast-feeding were classified into low, medium, and high being 20%, 54%, 22% respectively. The average age in which another milk was introduced was 3.7 days, and the main reasons were "insufficient mother milk", and "the child's hunger". Among the children with artificial lactation, 87% were once exposed to breastfeeding, the weaning took place during the 4 days in average (D.S. 5.6) and in an abrupt way in 55% of them. The Health personnel helped supporting the introduction of lacteal formula in 68% of the children with partial lactation and in 42% of the cases of complete abandon of natural breastfeeding.

Feeding in the first month of life, by social strata, in Córdoba, Argentina.

A study was made of the feeding history from birth to 1 month of age in a cohort of children born and residing in the city of Córdoba, Argentina, in 1993. The sample was divided into six social strata, in accordance with the occupation of the individual primarily responsible for family support. A total of 620 mothers were surveyed 1 month (mean = 31 days; SD = 1.2 days) following delivery in order to obtain information on the occupational, housing, and demographic characteristics of the family. In addition, information was collected on the first food given to infants following birth as well as on the type of food received at 1 month of age, the latter being based on 24-hour recall. The living conditions and demographic characteristics of the families were associated with their social strata. Families in Stratum I (high) and strata II and III (intermediate) tended to have higher standards of living and to have parents who were older when the children were born than did families in the lowest strata (V and VI), while families in Stratum IV tended to approach the average values found for the entire sample. With regard to feeding practices, it was found that 98% of the children had begun breast-feeding during the first week of life. A statistical association was observed between first food and social strata, with breast-feeding being more prevalent among the very low strata (V and VI) and use of bottle feeding being more prevalent in strata I and III. At 1 month of age, 26% of the sample was receiving complete natural breast-feeding, 60% was receiving partial natural breast-feeding, and 14% was being entirely bottle-fed. A significant association (P < 0.05) was observed between type of breast-feeding and social strata, with a figure of 38% complete natural breast-feeding recorded for Stratum I as compared to 16% for Stratum IV and 17% for Stratum V. Other findings of this study that stood out were that a high percentage of children in all the strata were initially breast-fed; a high percentage of the children were given breast-milk substitutes during the first month of life; and a low prevalence of complete natural breast-feeding was observed at 1 month of age.

[Food consumption of school children regarding their social condition. Córdoba, Republic of Argentina]. / Situación alimentaria de escolares en relación con su condición social. Córdoba, República Argentina.

This report reveals the daily consumption of nourishing food in primary school children coming from the north of Córdoba, Argentina, in relationship with their socio economic status, SES. Four categories were determined according to the place the chief support of the family occupies in the productive system. A 24 hours recall test was applied to obtain nutritional data as well as the weight and method of measure. Differences among the established categories were pointed out by socioeconomic indicators (P < 0.001). Powder and liquid milk ingesta showed statistic differences (P < 0.005), at the same time, the consumption of this food was poor, and it was not being incorporated into the scholarship's diet. The per-capita proportion of meat ingesta was over 100 g, in the whole group. Difference (P < 0.005) were noticed among the SES when the consumption was over 200 g. The consumption of fruits and vegetables is low. On the contrary, it was shown an increase in cereals and legumes ingesta as the SES decreased (P < 0.005). Analyzing the fitness of the diet it was found that the 53% of SES IV children showed calorie shortage whereas the proteins evaluation revealed excess consumption in the 88% of the studied scholarships. Other deficiencies were also found, such as calcium, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin in the whole group. This study also showed statistic differences with respect to the consumption of energy, calcium and ascorbic acid (P < 0.05).

[Differentiation of the nutritional status of preschool children, according to socioeconomic levels, in a marginal zone]. / Diferenciación de la situación nutricional del preescolar, segun niveles socioeconomicos, en una zona marginal.

This article informs of a study carried out in an attempt to validate a new methodology to differentiate socioeconomic levels in a low income urban population group, as well as to correlate each level with the degree of malnutrition of preschool children, using the Gómez and Waterlow classifications. The socioeconomic indicators selected were: housing, main occupational activity and educational level of the head of the family, number of members per room, food expenditure per capita, per week, and ownership of a few household articles. A scale was constructed on the basis of the afore-mentioned indicators, and values were assigned on a point system, resulting in three levels: high, medium and low. Weight and height were determined in preschool children. In order to establish correlation of anthropometric data with socioeconomic levels, and to determine if such levels permitted to differentiate the degree of malnutrition, two types of nutritional classifications were used. Of the total of 187 families selected, 46 were evaluated as of high level, 72 medium and 69, low. Analysis of the weight-for-age and weight-for-height in children 24 to 47 months of age, and total preschool children, that is, from 12 to 59 months, revealed significant differences in both classifications, p less than 0.001. The authors conclude that the point scale applied to determine socioeconomic levels, was sufficiently sensitive in distinguishing the degree of malnutrition in preschool children, especially when analyzing the total population; though not significant in a few age groups, this was probably due to the reduced number of same. It is recommended that the Gómez classification be used permanently, particularly in cross-sectional surveys, and the Waterlow classification, because of its rapid diffusion in the world.