The consumption of unhealthy foods by Brazilian children is influenced by their mother's educational level.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between the consumption of unhealthy foods in children under one year and the education level of the mothers, data obtained from participants of the II Survey on the prevalence of breastfeeding in the Brazilian capitals and the Federal District in 2008 was analyzed.


METHODS
During the second stage of the campaign for multi-vaccination, a questionnaire on food consumption in the last 24 hours was given to mothers or guardians of children under one year old. We analyzed the consumption of unhealthy foods according to age group, maternal education, region of residence and breastfeeding status. The state capitals and the Federal District were grouped according to the five macro-regions of the country (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and West). Processed juice, soda, coffee, cookies/salted snacks and sugar and/or honey were defined as unhealthy foods. Prevalence ratios (RP) for the association between the consumption of unhealthy foods and maternal education were estimated using Poisson regression models.


RESULTS
The study included 34,366 children. The consumption of sweet foods started early and was predominant until the age of six months; after this age, the consumption of biscuits and/or snacks became more prevalent. The consumption of these foods also differs in relation to the macro-region of residence. Consumption of unhealthy foods was higher among mothers with lower education levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The consumption of unhealthy foods by Brazilian children under one year old was high, indicating a need for developing effective strategies to combat the consumption of unhealthy foods in Brazilian children as a way of preventing obesity and other future disorders.
Instituto de Saúde, Secretaria do Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, Rua Santo Antônio, 590, Bela Vista, 01314-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. smsaldiva@isaude.sp.gov.br.
Silvia Regina Dias Medici
SR
Saldiva
Sonia Isoyama
SI
Venancio
Andréia Cardoso
AC
de Santana
Ana Lucia
AL
da Silva Castro
Maria Mercedes Loureiro
MM
Escuder
Elsa Regina Justo
ER
Giugliani
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009035:Mothers; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence