Child health and nutrition in the Western Brazilian Amazon: population-based surveys in two counties in Acre State
Cad. saúde pública
; 23(6): 1283-1293, jun. 2007. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-452234
Responsible library:
BR526.1
ABSTRACT
The article presents prevalence rates for malnutrition, intestinal parasitic infections, anemia, and iron deficiency in under-five children in a population-based cross-sectional survey performed in the urban area of two counties in the Western Brazilian Amazon, Assis Brasil (n = 200) and Acrelandia (n = 477). Available data included (a) weight and height measurements, standardized as z-scores using the 1977 NCHS reference population, (b) diagnosis of current intestinal parasitic infection, (c) blood hemoglobin levels, and (d) plasma ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor levels. Overall prevalence rates of low weight-for-height, low weight-for-age, and low height-for-age were 3.7 percent, 8.7 percent, and 7.5 percent, respectively, with similar figures in the two towns. Intestinal parasites were detected in 32.5 percent children; helminths were uncommon. Anemia and iron deficiency were diagnosed in 30.6 percent and 43.5 percent of the children, respectively. Evidence of anemia was found in only 47.6 percent of the children with depleted iron reserves, indicating that hemoglobin measurement alone would severely underestimate the magnitude of iron deficiency in this population. In both towns, anemia and malnutrition were significantly more prevalent among children in the lowest socioeconomic stratum.
RESUMO
As prevalências de desnutrição, parasitoses intestinais, anemia e deficiência de ferro foram avaliadas, por meio de inquéritos transversais de base populacional, em pré-escolares na área urbana de dois municípios das Amazônia Ocidental Brasileira, Assis Brasil (n = 200) e Acrelândia (n = 477). Os índices antropométricos peso/estatura (P/E), peso/idade (P/I) e estatura/idade (E/I) foram calculados como escores z, com base na população de referência do National Center for Health Statistics de 1977. Diagnosticaram-se déficits nutricionais segundo índices P/E, P/I e E/I em 3,7 por cento, 8,7 por cento e 7,5 por cento das crianças, respectivamente. Encontraram-se parasitas intestinais em 32,5 por cento das 554 amostras examinadas, sendo raras as infecções por helmintos. Com base nos níveis de hemoglobina sangüínea e níveis plasmáticos de ferritina e receptor solúvel de transferrina, diagnosticaram-se anemia e deficiência de ferro em 30,6 por cento e 43,5 por cento das crianças, respectivamente. Somente 47,6 por cento das crianças com deficiência de ferro tinham anemia, indicando que a medida isolada de hemoglobina sangüínea subestima a magnitude da deficiência de ferro nesta população. Nos dois municípios, a anemia e a desnutrição foram significantemente mais prevalentes entre as crianças de famílias dos estratos sócio-econômicos mais baixos.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Health context:
Neglected Diseases
Health problem:
Helminthiasis
/
Zoonoses
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Child Nutrition Disorders
/
Nutritional Status
/
Iron Deficiencies
/
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Cad. saúde pública
Journal subject:
Public Health
/
Toxicology
Year:
2007
Document type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal do Acre/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR