title: [Effect of feeding competencies on the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the feeding competencies influence the nutritional status in a group of Portuguese children with cerebral palsy (CP). One hundred and five children, aged between 4 and 12 years, were studied. Nutritional status was determined through BMI for age (BMI_y), and subescapular (SSF) and tricipital skinfolds (TSF). Feeding competencies were evaluated using the seven levels of the Functional Feeding Assessment test (FFA). This study confirmed the high prevalence of malnutrition in children with CP, since 44,8% of the sample had a BMI_y bellow the 5th percentile (Pct5). Significant differences were observed between males and females, namely in malnutrition which was higher in females (52, 4% had a BMI_y<Pct5). TSF showed similar values to those of BMI_y, since TSF values were bellow Pct5 in 46, 7% of the sample. All the feeding competencies were strongly correlated with the nutritional status indicators and the moderate and severe feeding incapacities represented 47,5% of the sample. Significant differences were observed for the feeding competencies between malnourished and non malnourished children. From logistic regression analysis, Odds Ratio (OR) were inferred between nutritional status (BMI_y, TSF & SSF), the decrease in feeding competencies and gender, and independent associations were identified between nutritional status and some feeding competencies. The independent associations between nutritional status and drinking from a cup, drinking through a straw and drooling during feeding, may be considered important screening tools that allow early detection of malnutrition and promote the intervention of the health care team, namely nutritionists and speech therapists, implementing prevention and recovery strategies for the nutritional and functional status of these children.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Reabilitação de Paralisia Cerebral do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Antónia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kent-Smith
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa Santos
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status