title: Prevalence and factors associated with stunting and excess weight in children aged 0-5 years from the Brazilian semi-arid region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the prevalence of excess weight and low height, and identify associated factors among children younger than five years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-census study. A total of 1,640 children from two municipalities in Piauí, Brazil were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of low height was 10.9% (95% CI: 9.3 to 12.4), inversely associated with mother's younger age and low level of education, lower socioeconomic status, mothers who had fewer than six prenatal consultations, and households that had more than one child younger than 5 years. Excess weight prevalence was 19.1% (95% CI: 17.2 to 21.0), and remained inversely associated with lower maternal age, low maternal education, and cesarean delivery. Stunting was greater in children aged between 12 and 23 months, while excess weight decreased with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is noteworthy that the stunting rate, although decreasing, is still high, while the prevalence of excess weight, even in this very poor area, already exceeds the expected percentage for a population with better socioeconomic level.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: claryvitoria@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Clariana V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dumith
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juraci A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: César
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019352:Censuses; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anthropometry; Antropometria; Body weights and measures; Child; Criança; Estatura; Height; Nutritional transition; Peso e medidas corporais; Prevalence; Prevalência; Transição nutricional