title: Effect of breastfeeding on head circumference of children from impoverished communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the effect of exclusive breastfeeding on head circumference (HC) among children living in impoverished communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among children 12-60 months old from the 39 quilombos located in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. HC deficit was defined by a z-score of less than -2 from the median (based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards). Prevalence ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance, and estimates were adjusted for possible confounders (anthropometric, socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related variables).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 725 children (365 boys and 360 girls). The prevalence of HC deficit was 13.3% among those children who were exclusively breastfed for less than 30 days, 10.6% among those exclusively breastfed for 30-119 days, and 5.8% among those who were exclusively breastfed for 120 days or more. Even after controlling for possible confounding variables, exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months decreased the risk of HC deficit (prevalence ratio, 0.48; 95% CI 0.24, 0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exclusive breastfeeding for ≥4 months was associated with a larger HC in children exposed to great social vulnerability in impoverished communities.
authors: Laboratory of Basic and Applied Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. haroldo.ufal@gmail.com
authors: Haroldo da Silva
authors: Hda S
authors: Ferreira
authors: Antonio Fernando Silva
authors: AF
authors: Xavier Júnior
authors: Monica Lopes
authors: ML
authors: de Assunção
authors: Ewerton Amorim
authors: EA
authors: Dos Santos
authors: Bernardo Lessa
authors: BL
authors: Horta
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors