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The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of excess weight and associated factors in women of reproductive age living in a low-income community. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 663 women 15 to 49 years of age residing in the neighborhood of Coelhos in the city of Recife, Brazil. Body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used to classify the nutritional status of the adolescents (15 to 19 years of age), adopting Z-score of ≥+1 for the definition of overweight. For the adults, BMI≥25.0 kg/m² was considered indicative of overweight. Socioeconomic, demographic and reproductive variables were analyzed as possible factors associated with overweight. The prevalence of excess weight was found in two thirds of the sample. The results of the Poisson multiple regression analysis showed a significantly higher prevalence of excess weight with the advance in age, among those with a younger menarche age, those who had three or more pregnancies, those living with their partner and those self-declared black or white. Multiparity was the only factor associated with excess weight that could be modified, which underscores the importance of prenatal and family planning services to its prevention and control.

The scope of this study is to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (CNCD) in adults living in an impoverished urban area located in Recife in the Brazilian northeast. It is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 631 adults of 20 to 59 years of age. The possible associations of CNCD with demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral and health-related factors were analyzed using Poisson Regression, considering a p value of < 0.05 as being statistically significant. The prevalence of CNCD was 56.7%; highest among males (60.8%); adults aged 50-59 years (80.5%); lower economic class (57.7%); and lower level of schooling (62%). The problem was also associated with individuals with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (34.2%) as well as individuals who reported poor health status (76.4%). In the multivariate hierarchical model, the statistically significant variables were: schooling, BMI, health perception, gender and age bracket. A high prevalence of at least one CNCD was observed, as well as a statistically significant association between CNCD and the following variables: schooling, BMI, health perception, gender and age bracket. These results suggest the need to intensify health promotion actions in poor communities, aiming at enhanced control of health in general.

The scope of this paper was to assess the temporal and geographical trends of diarrhea and its implications on the demands of hospitalizations of children under five years of age in the state of Pernambuco in 1997 and 2006. Databases of two population-based surveys were assessed with probabilistic samples of 2078 children (1997) and 1650 children (2006) evaluated in 18 municipalities of Pernambuco, including the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Urban Interior and Rural Interior. Prevalence was considered to involve the occurrence of cases on the day or in the two weeks prior to the interview and as admissions, service cases with minimal hospital stay of 24 hours in the period, covering up to one year before the interview. The prevalence of diarrhea in Pernambuco had a statistically non-significant decline (19.8% to 18.1%; p = 0.192). However, a statistically-significant reduction was observed (16.9% to 10.5%; p = 0.003) in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. The number of admissions increased by more than double (2.7% to 5.5% in the State and from 1.6% to 3.8% within the Metropolitan Region of Recife), in contrast with national trends. Therefore, diarrhea in the State appears as the main component of the demands of pediatric hospitalizations during the period under scrutiny.

The scope of this paper was to evaluate the influence of breastfeeding and other factors on the incidence of hospitalization and the frequency and main causes of hospitalization in children under two years of age in the State of Pernambuco. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study using secondary data obtained from the II and III State Health and Nutrition Surveys (PESN) carried out in 1997 and 2006, respectively. A sample of 1503 infants under two years of age was studied. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to analyze bivariate associations and Fisher's exact test for comparison of risk of hospitalization in the two years of observation and Poisson regression for the adjustment of the multivariate model of hospitalizations in the last survey. In the two years analyzed, there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of hospitalizations of children. The lower risk of hospitalization remained for those who were breastfed exclusively. Regarding to environmental, socioeconomic, demographic characteristics and health assistance, several factors have evolved favorably in the period assessed. In the final model, only the weight/length ratio (low weight category) remained associated with the risk of hospitalization in children under two years of age factors.

The scope of this paper was to describe and analyze the practice of breastfeeding in children under five years of age in the state of Pernambuco, in 2006 in accordance with birth weight. It involved a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,595 children. The chi square test was used to examine bivariate associations and Poisson regression was applied for multivariate adjustment of conditioning factors to exclusive breastfeeding > 4 months, according to birth weight. It was found that the practice of prenatal care and number of visits benefited children born weighing > 2,500 gram, compared to those with birth weight < 2,500 g (low birth weight - LBW). There was no statistical difference in the ratings of breastfeeding, according to birth weight. The years of formal study and type of delivery variables were linked to the group associated with LBW, while for children weighing > 2,500 g associations with the per capita income, geographical area, guidance on breastfeeding during prenatal care and sex of the children variables were detected. The group of LBW children did not benefit from recommendations regarding breastfeeding and also the results from the relations of the variables that remained in the two groups were different, representing the final models of the multivariate analyses.

The scope of this study was to describe the prevalence and factors associated with anemia and vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children under five years old assisted under the Family Health Program. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pernambuco, Brazil, in 2006. Children between 6 and 59 months-old, who had performed measurements of hemoglobin and serum retinol, were selected using samples from 945 and 563 children respectively. Anemia was determined by the hemoglobin level < 11 g/dL and VAD by serum retinol < µmol/L. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by Poisson multiple regression using a hierarchical model. Anemia prevalence was 35%, decreasing with the increase number of people per room, maternal age and the child's age. With respect to VAD, its prevalence was 16%, rising in places where garbage disposal was inadequate and in children who had suffered from diarrhea in the previous fifteen days. The prevalence of anemia was more than double that found for VAD, highlighting the influence of environmental factors on VAD.

The prevalence and risk factors associated with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) were analyzed in 664 mothers and their 790 children under the age of five in Pernambuco in 2006. A population-based cross-sectional study, with a representative sample in urban and rural areas was conducted. VAD was defined as serum retinol levels < 20 mg/dL for both groups (mothers and children). Bi and multivariate analysis were performed using the complementary log-log model as a link function adopting a model of explanatory hierarchical order of VAD to children and a logistic model for mothers. The prevalence of VAD was 6.9% in mothers and 16.1% in their children, with similar statistics for urban and. rural groups. In the urban area, the housing occupation regime had a significant association with VAD in mothers. After the final adjustment of the model for urban children, the mother's age, the number of pre-natal consultations and birth weight were featured as predictive variables. In rural areas, VAD in mothers is associated with VAD in children; PR= 3.99 (95% CI:1.73-9.19), with their birth weight and the incidence of diarrhea in the previous 15 days. VAD continues to be a public health issue in the state of Pernambuco, with marked variations in prevalence and associated factors in mothers and children.

The scope of this paper was to assess the evolution and influence of maternal and child care on birth weight variation in the state of Pernambuco. The study used data from two cross-sectional population-based household surveys conducted with under-five children in the state of Pernambuco in 1997 (n = 1906) and 2006 (n = 1555). The sample was calculated to ensure the representativeness of two geo-economic strata: urban and rural areas. The variables studied were prenatal, delivery care and birth weight. The x(2) test was used to compare the categorical variables and mean difference in birth weight was calculated between the years studied with the respective 95% confidence interval. A marked improvement was seen in prenatal care and an increase in the frequency of caesarean section. In the rural area there was a significant 112 g decrease in mean birth weight. In 2006, access to at least one prenatal care appointment occurred irrespective of maternal schooling, however, in 1997 and 2006 access to adequate prenatal care was higher among mothers with better schooling. In spite of the improvement in prenatal and delivery care, poor access, excess of medical interventions and the increase in newborn survival may be influencing the variations in mean birth weight in the State of Pernambuco.

The scope of this study was to describe the prevalence of, and analyze factors associated with, linear growth retardation in children. The baseline study analyzed 2040 children under the age of five, establishing a possible association between growth delay (height/age index < 2 scores Z) and variables in six hierarchical blocks: socio-economic, residence, sanitary, maternal, biological and healthcare access. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression with the robust standard error option, obtaining adjusted prevalence ratios with a CI of 95% and the respective significant probability values. Among non-binary variables, there was a positive association with roof type and number of inhabitants per room and a negative association with income per capita, mother's schooling and birth weight. The adjusted analysis also indicated water supply, visit from the community health agent, birth delivery location, internment for diarrhea, or for pneumonia and birth weight as significant variables. Several risk factors were identified for linear growth retardation pointing to the multi-causal aspects of the problem and highlighting the need for control measures by the various hierarchical government agents.

The scope of this study was to evaluate trends in the temporal evolution of anemia in students ranging from the ages of 7 to 11 in Várzea district (Recife-PE) based on three reports concluded in 1982, 2001 and 2005. An evaluation was achieved in ten public schools in the first study and nine in the last two (one was shut down), in a sample of 305 students (1982), 684 students (2001) and 756 students (2005). Hemoglobin was determined in blood samples taken by venopunction, having two criteria to describe anemia: cut points < 12 g/dL and < 11.5 g/dL. By the first criteria, the prevalence of anemia increased from 8.8% in 1982 to 18.9% in 2001, decreasing to 13.4% in 2005. In the last evaluation, the problem of anemia practically disappeared starting from the age of 9. The evolution of anemia revealed two very different trends: marked elevation in the first phase (1982 to 2001) and a rapid decrease in the second stage (2001 to 2005).

Breastfeeding is considered an important strategy for survival in infancy. Consequently, strategies have been developed mainly directed towards health professionals. The scope of the study was to identify the frequency and duration of breastfeeding among professionals of a Family Health Program in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. It is a transversal descriptive study conducted between September and November 2006 involving 37 workers and mothers of under-five's in the Family Health Program of the IV Sanitary Health District of Recife. Of the 37 professionals, two refused to participate and were therefore excluded, meaning that 35 were effectively interviewed. The mean duration of breastfeeding was four months. Comparing the workers who breastfed exclusively with those that did not, it was found that mothers who breastfed exclusively for > 4 months, had no difficulties with breastfeeding (p=0.027). A tendency of statistical significance was found in relation to the use of pacifiers among children whose mothers did not breastfeed exclusively (p=0.051). The difficulties found during breastfeeding among the workers of the Family Health Program of the IV Sanitary Health District and the use of pacifiers among their children are problems that deserve attention, due to the fact that they represent a group that serves as a model for the community.

This paper aims to trace the history of the scientific field of Food and Nutrition in Public Health in Brazil (FNPH), trying to describe the contexts that allowed the construction, consolidation and redefinition of the field, to identify the Brazilian scientists who contributed to this process and address the scientific concepts or paradigms that guided the actions of these scientists. As methodological criteria of analysis three cross sections corresponding to contexts of history in this field were established: the first one covers the period from 1930 to 1963, the second one between 1964 and 1984 and the third one considers the period from 1985 to 2010. We conclude that the field of FNPH assumed the current configuration from the mid-1970's, within the so-called Brazilian health movement, whose main ideas were the achievement of health reform and the construction of the Unified Health System. We reaffirm the importance of multidisciplinary character and the premise of the important role of the field of FNPH in ensuring the human right to healthy food, a component of the set of conditions necessary for health promotion, disease prevention, surveillance and health recovery and improvement of quality of life for all Brazilians.

In 1990, the United Nations held a World Summit in New York, in which goals for the upcoming decade were established. One of these goals was a one-third reduction in the prevalence of anemia among women at childbearing age. Despite this modest percentage, epidemiological indicators point to the opposite direction, indicating an increasing occurrence of anemia in different regions of the world, including in Brazil. These data show that anemia has continued since the antiquity to be one of the most prevalent and widespread diseases in human populations. Thus, a number of questions without answers arise regarding the actual prevalence and etiopathogenesis of the problem as well as with respect to the degree of implantation and the effectiveness of control measures.