Positive impact of child feeding training program for primary care health professionals: a cluster randomized field trial.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a child feeding training program for primary care health professionals about breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.


METHODS
Cluster-randomized field trial conducted in the city of Porto Alegre, (RS), Brazil. Twenty primary health care centers (HCC) were randomized into intervention (n = 9) and control (n = 11) groups. The health professionals (n = 200) at the intervention group centers received training about healthy feeding practices. Pregnant women were enrolled at the study. Up to six months of child's age, home visits were made to obtain variables related to breastfeeding and introduction of foods.


RESULTS
619 children were evaluated: 318 from the intervention group and 301 from the control group. Exclusive breastfeeding prevalence in the first (72.3 versus 59.4%; RR = 1.21; 95%CI 1.08 - 1.38), second (62.6 versus 48.2%; RR = 1.29; 95%CI 1.10 - 1.53), and third months of life (44.0% versus 34.6%; RR = 1.27; 95%CI 1.04 - 1.56) was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. The prevalence of children who consumed meat four or five times per week was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (36.8 versus 22.6%; RR = 1.62; 95%CI 1.32 - 2.03). The prevalence of children who had consumed soft drinks (34.9 versus 52.5%; RR = 0.66; 95%CI 0.54 - 0.80), chocolate (24.5 versus 36.7% RR = 0.66 95%CI 0.53 - 0.83), petit suisse (68.9 versus 79.7; 95%CI 0.75 - 0.98) and coffee (10.4 versus 20.1%; RR = 0.51; 95%CI 0.31 - 0.85) in their six first months of life was lower in the intervention group.


CONCLUSIONS
The training of health professionals had a positive impact on infant feeding practices, contributing to the promotion of child health.
Nutrition Department, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Márcia Regina
MR
Vitolo
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Maria Laura da Costa
ML
Louzada
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Fernanda
F
Rauber
D001942:Breast Feeding; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors