title: Characteristics and factors associated with health care in children younger than 1 year with very low birth weight.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the characteristics of health care in infants with very low birth weight during the first year of life and the factors associated with this care.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive study with an analytical component conducted in the city of Maceió, Northeastern Brazil, with a sample of 53 children with a median age of five months at the time of the interview, and their mothers. The mothers were interviewed at home regarding socioeconomic and demographic data and health care provided for the child. Health care was assessed through an index using 16 variables related to the recommended actions for this type of care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that maternal education and family income were the variables that best explained the health care index variation (18.9%), followed by parity (6.6%), and breastfeeding at the time of the interview (6.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that families with lower socioeconomic status, women with a higher number of children, and women who did not breastfeed were factors associated with poor health care of children born with very low birth weight, these variables should be included in measures of public health planning.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitário Professor Alberto Antunes, Universidade Federal de Alagoas (UFAL), Maceió, AL, Brazil. anamariaped@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Ana M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Samir B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kassar
authors.forename: Pedro I C
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Lira
authors.forename: Sônia B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.forename: Sophie H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Eickmann
authors.forename: Marilia C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors