Influence of the Bolsa Família program on nutritional status and food frequency of schoolchildren
Journal Title: Jornal de Pediatria - Year 2016, Vol 92, Issue 4
Abstract
Objective To evaluate the food frequency and nutritional status among students according to participation in the Bolsa Família program funded by the government. Methods Cross-sectional study carried out with students from the fourth grade of elementary school in the municipal capital of the southeastern region of Brazil. Food consumption and anthropometry were investigated by a questionnaire administered in school, while participation in the Bolsa Família program and other socio-economic information was obtained through a protocol applied to mothers/guardians. Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney test, the chi-squared test, and Poisson regression with robust variance, and the 5% significance level was adopted. Results There were 319 children evaluated; 56.4% were male, with a median of 9.4 (8.6–11.9) years, and 37.0% were beneficiaries of Bolsa Família program. Between the two groups, there was high prevalence of regular soda consumption (34.3%), artificial juice (49.5%), and sweets (40.3%), while only 54.3% and 51.7% consumed fruits and vegetables regularly, respectively. Among participants of Bolsa Família program, a prevalence 1.24 times higher in the regular consumption of soft drinks (95% CI: 1.10–1.39) was identified compared to non-beneficiaries. The prevalence of overweight was higher in the sample (32.9%), with no difference according to participation in the program. Conclusion The study found increased consumption of soft drinks among BFP participants. The high rate of overweight and poor eating habits denote the need to develop actions to promote healthy eating, especially for the beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família program, to promote improvements in nutritional status and prevent chronic diseases throughout life.
Authors and Affiliations
Ariene do Carmo
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP513695
- DOI 10.1016/j.jped.2015.10.008
- Views 76
- Downloads 0
Duodenal pathologies in children: a single-center experience
Objective Several studies have been performed concerning pathologies of the stomach and esophagus in the pediatric age group. However, there have been very few studies of duodenal pathologies in children. The authors aim...
Intra-abdominal fat measurement by ultrasonography: association with anthropometry and metabolic syndrome in adolescents
Objective To associate intra-abdominal fat thickness measured by ultrasonography to the factors related to metabolic syndrome and to determine cutoff points of intra-abdominal fat measurement associated with a greater ch...
Reviewing the use of corticosteroids in bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Objective Review the risks and benefits of postnatal corticosteroid use for the treatment of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, considering that there is not a more effective therapy. Data sources The literature review was car...
Effects of programmed physical activity on body composition in post-pubertal schoolchildren
Objective To assess body composition modifications in post-pubertal schoolchildren after practice of a physical activity program during one school year. Methods The sample consisted of 386 students aged between 15 and 1...
A closer look at the fetal programming hypothesis with obstetric ultrasound
Most, if not all, pregnant women in developed countries will have an ultrasound examination to time pregnancy and assess the health and development of the embryo or fetus. Nonetheless, surprisingly few cohort studies hav...