Violência contra a criança e práticas alimentares no décimo terceiro mês de vida

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the association of violence against children (VAC) and feeding practices of infantsin the thirteenth month of life. The analyzed data comes from a prospective cohort that evaluated the growth during the first year of life of newborns followed at health facilities in Rio de Janeiro between 2005 and 2009. The present study makes a cross-sectional analysis of 348 children who participated in the thirteenth month of life interview (mean age = 13.01 ± 1.30 months). Feeding practices were investigated with a 24-hour dietary recall and the main outcome (Minimum dietary diversity and breast milksupply) defined based on an indicator proposed by the World Health Organization in 2008. VAC was investigated through the portuguese version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales. Other variables indicated by the literature related to the mother, children and the environment in which they live were also included in the analyzes as possible confounders. Associations between VAC and infantsfeeding practices were verified through binary and multinomial logistic regression, where crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), were estimated. A p-value≤0.05 was indicative of statistical significance. The study results show that VAC (corporal punishment and global physical abuse simultaneously), increased by approximately 2.5 times the chances of not offering breast milk (OR=2.47; IC95%=1.31–4.65; p=0.005) and increased by approximately four times the chances of not offering minimum dietary diversity and breast milk (OR=3.90; IC95%=1.04–14.61; p=0.043) in the thirteenth month of life. These results indicate that VAC relates to feeding practices in first years of life and highlight the importance of monitoring feeding practices of infants and the need for investments and practices in identifying and providing advice on various aspects of family health, including violence.