Avaliação de preparações lácteas oferecidas a lactentes em um município do Recôncavo da Bahia

Abstract

Introduction: The early use of artificial milk, infant formula and other foods may lead in the increase in infant mortality. A risk factor present in artificial feeding is inadequate dilution, very dilute or highly concentrated preparations are harmful to the child for contributing inadequacies in energy supply, macro and micro nutrients and thus gain and weight loss, risk of diarrhea, dehydration, among others. Objective: To evaluate milk preparations offered to infants in a municipality of Bahia Recôncavo. Methods: Prospective cohort study, dynamic, composed of pregnant women assisted in the prenatal care in health units, from April / 2012 to August / 2014, each woman was followed for 12 months, and collected information on the scheme feed the infant. We used a structured questionnaire with information about birth, socioeconomic status and maternal health conditions and the newborn. To analyze the energy content, macro- and micronutrients, used the food recall and the age of introduction of each food group in the infant diet. Results: We followed 127 women at 6 months postpartum, and analyzed food 55 children regimes. Of this sample, 47% used only infant formula or whole milk, 25% based preparations and farinaceous artificial milk and 27% used both preparations. Preparations studied 36% were made according to the measurements indicated on the label of food and 64% prepared differently. Conclusion: When comparing the milk preparations with mature breast milk, it can be concluded that the energy value, macro and micronutrients were inadequate amounts compared to human milk, in most preparations with potential risk to the health and nutritional status children.