Nutrition transition in Brazilian children under 5 years old from 2006 to 2019

• DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xen216622
• Publication Date: 2023-10-23T11:26:56Z
• Authors: Inês Rugani Ribei...; Luiz Antonio dos ...; Elisa Maria de Aq...; Cristiano Siqueir...; Dayana Rodrigues ...; Nadya Helena Alve...; Paula Normando; Maiara Brusco de ...; Pedro Gomes Andrade; Neilane Bertoni; Raquel Machado Sc...; Talita Lelis Berti; Letícia B. Vertul...; Gilberto Kac
• Keywords: Debate; Breastfeeding; Aleitamento Materno; Lactancia Materna; Vegetables; Humans; Micronutrients; Child; Growth Disorders; Trantornos del Crecimiento; Vitamin A Deficiency; R; Infant; Transtornos do Crescimento; Anemia; Overweight; Deficiência de Vitamina A; Deficiencia de Vitamina A; Sobrepeso; Child, Preschool; Medicine; Female; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Brazil

Abstract: This manuscript aims to report the nutrition transition in Brazilian children under 5 years old from 2006 to 2019. Microdata from the Brazilian National Survey on Demography and Health of Women and Children (PNDS 2006) and the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were analyzed. The indicators considered were: micronutrient status (anemia and vitamin A deficiency), anthropometric status (stunting and excessive weight), and breastfeeding practice (exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months and continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months). We also analyzed minimum dietary diversity (MDD), consumption of ultra-processed foods, consumption of meat or eggs, and not consuming fruits or vegetables in children 6-59 months of age only for ENANI-2019. Equiplot charts were generated according to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color. From 2006 to 2019, the prevalence rates of anemia and vitamin A deficiency decreased from 20.5% to 10.1% and 17.2% to 6%, respectively. The prevalence of stunting remained at 7%, and excessive weight rates increased from 6% to 10.1%. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among children < 6 months increased from 38.6% to 45.8%, and of continued breastfeeding among children 12-23 months from 34.6% to 43.6%. In 2019, 61.5% of children achieved the MDD, 88.8% consumed ultra-processed foods, 83.1% consumed meat or egg, and 25.7% did not consume fruits or vegetables the day before the survey. Trends of decreased micronutrient deficiencies, increased breastfeeding, and excessive weight rates, as well as reductions in disparities related to geographic region, maternal schooling level, and maternal race/skin color, were observed for most of the indicators.