Malnutrition and overweight in children under five in the rural environment of Arambaré, RS: (de)constructing ideas, rethinking new challenges

Abstract

This epidemiological study, of a sectional-descriptive type, has the aim of evaluating the nutritional situation and describing the life context of rural children under five, from Arambaré/RS. Data was collected by researches in 2005 through residencial visits. The children’s contexts were investigated through a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed through descriptive statistics. For the anthropometrical assessment, the children were weighed and measured according to the recommendation of the Monitoring Program (SISVAN). The anthropometrical indexes (height/age, weight/age, weight/height) were expressed in Z-score and analyzed using EPINUT / Epilnfo 6.04. Rural poverty is remarkable in the studied context, and subsistence agriculture is not expressive. It identified that precocious weaning takes place, and exclusive breastfeeding is not much practiced. In relation to the nutritional state, malnutrition is most prevalent in chronic cases (H/A). Concerning the overweight ones (W/H), 18.8% of the evaluated children are overweight and 1.3% obese. The study points out the need to rethink social, economical, and health care for rural populations. We believe that this and other information raised by this study can influence local public politics concerning children and their families.