Food intake and nutritional status of preschool from maroon communities of the state Alagoas, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the dietary intake and the nutritional status of children from Alagoas maroon communities.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study involving 724 children (12-60 months) from 39 Alagoas maroon communities. The nutritional status was investigated by anthropometric, biochemical (hemoglobin) and food consumption indicators.


RESULTS
The prevalence of anemia, stunting and obesity were, respectively, 48.0, 9.7 and 6.0%. The children had a monotonous eating pattern and a considerable prevalence of inadequate intake of zinc (17.0%), folate (18.1%), iron (20.2%) and vitamins A (29.7%) and C (34.3%). Compared to the other socioeconomic classes, the E class children had lower average consumption (p<0.05) for energy, carbohydrate, vitamins A and C, folate, iron, zinc and phosphorus.


CONCLUSIONS
Anemia is a serious Public Health problem. The prevalence of chronic malnutrition and obesity were similar to those observed for the children in the State as a whole, where a nutritional transition process is occuring. There was a high prevalence of inadequate food intake risk for zinc, folate, iron and vitamins A and C, suggesting the need for nutritional education actions.
Faculdade de Nutrição, UFAL, MaceióAL, Brasil.
Fernanda Maria de B
FM
Leite
Faculdade de Nutrição, UFAL, MaceióAL, Brasil.
Haroldo da Silva
Hda S
Ferreira
Faculdade de Nutrição, UFAL, MaceióAL, Brasil.
Myrtis Katille de A
MK
Bezerra
Faculdade de Nutrição, UFAL, MaceióAL, Brasil.
Monica Lopes de
ML
Assunção
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, PelotasRS, Brasil.
Bernardo Lessa
BL
Horta
D044383:Black People; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status