Feeding practices of children at Sobradinho Regional Hospital
a nutritional, epidemiological, and anthropometric analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51723/hrj.v7i35.1231Keywords:
Breast feeding, Complementary feeding, Feeding behavior, Infant nutritional phenomena, AnthropometryAbstract
Objective: To describe the nutritional, epidemiological, and anthropometric characteristics of hospitalized infants at the Hospital Regional de Sobradinho, Federal District, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2025 with infants aged 6 to 23 months admitted to the pediatric ward. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire applied to caregivers, addressing sociodemographic characteristics, feeding practices, food consumption, vitamin and mineral supplementation, nutritional status, and household food insecurity. Results: The sample consisted of 102 infants with a mean age of 13.4 months, 56% male, and 52% residing in Sobradinho. Among the 84 infants with complete anthropometric data, 63% were classified as eutrophic, while 37% showed deviations, including obesity and severe thinness. Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months occurred in only 32%, while 42.1% were introduced to solids prematurely. Artificial teats were used by 64.7% of participants and were associated with lower exclusive breastfeeding prevalence. Only 35.3% received adequate supplementation. Consumption of ultra-processed foods reached 66.7%, and dietary diversity was insufficient in about one-quarter of the sample, with particularly low intake of fish and nuts. Food insecurity was reported in 40.2% of families and was associated with poorer overall diet quality. Conclusion: The findings highlight significant dietary inadequacies, reflecting the ongoing nutritional transition among Brazilian children, and reinforce the need for educational strategies, strengthened primary care, and public policies aimed at ensuring food security.
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