Regresar

The socio-economic conditions and patterns of food intake in children aged between 4 and 11 years: The SCAALA study-salvador/bahia

Abstract:

Objectives: to identify the patterns of food intake in children and the association between these and the socio-economic condi- tions of their families. Methods: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 1260 children aged between 4 and 11 years, resident in the city of Salvador, in the Brazilian State of Bahia, including application of a semi-quantitative Food Intake Frequency questionnaire. The pattern of food intake of the children was assessed using factorialanalysis by principal components. Socio-economic level was assessed using a compound socio-economic indicator. Multivariate logistic regression was employed. Results: four food groups were identified that explained 45.9% of the variability in food intake frequency data. Children from a more privileged socio-economic background were found to be 1.6 times more likely (p<0.001) to have a higher frequency of intake of food from group 1 (fruit, vegetables, pulses, cereals and sea food) and 3.09 times more likely (p<0.001) to have a higher frequency of consumption of food from group 2 (milk and dairy products, ketchup/mustard/mayonnaise and chicken), compared with children from a less privileged background. The opposite was found for group 4 (processed meat products, eggs, and red meat); with the children from more privileged backgrounds less likely to consume food from this group. A similar tendency was found for food from group 3 (fried food, sweets, snacks, soda/arti- ficial fruit juice). Conclusions: patterns of food intake in children depend on the socio-economic conditions of their families and the choice of healthier food is associated with a more privileged socio- economic background.