Padrões alimentares e fatores associados em escolares do 1º ano do ensino fundamental de escolas municipais de São Leopoldo, RS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns (DP) and associated factors in students of 1st year of primary school enrolled in public schools in São Leopoldo, Brazil. It is a transversal study, school-based, with a sample of 782 school children 6-8 years old. This study was part of the research "Adherence to 10 steps of healthy eating for children between students of 1st year of elementary school of public schools in São Leopoldo, RS." Data were collected in 2011 through a structured, standardized, pre-coded questionnaire applied to the mother / guardian by school, by trained interviewers, following a pilot study. Using the statistical method of principal component analysis, four patterns were found in the studied population: DP1 ("fruits, vegetables and fish"); DP2 ("sweet and salty"); DP3 ("dairy, ham and cookies") and DP4 ("common Brazilian"). Associations were tested with these patterns with sociodemographic, behavioral variables and food insecurity (FI). To this, prevalence ratios, crude and adjusted, were measured through the Poisson regression testing. After adjustment, the probability of adherence to PA1 was 55% higher among those who made breakfast (p=0.038) and increased linearly with decreasing frequency of meals in front of the screen (p=0.015). The adherence to PA2 decreases linearly with increasing maternal education (p=0.020) and with the decrease in the frequency of meals in front of the screen (p=0.015). With increasing maternal education, there was a higher probability of adherence to PA3 (p=0.030) and lower to PA4 (p=0.48). Students with FI and sufficiently active were more likely to adhere to PA4 (44% and 45%, respectively). The results showed the influence of socioeconomic factors, FI and behavioral aspects of adherence to DP. The findings of this study are relevant, since corroborate others found in the literature and may be used for the basis of future actions that promote changes in habits and eating behaviors. Furthermore, in relation to childhood, the feeding needs special attention, considering that this is a stage of growth, development and formation of food habits.