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Social support and infant malnutrition: a case–control study in an urban area of Southeastern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

Maria Antonieta de B. L. Carvalhaes ,
Maria Helena D'Aquino Benício  and
Aluísio J. D. Barros
Maria Antonieta de B. L. Carvalhaes*
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Medicina, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, Botucatu São Paulo, Brazil Departamento de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Brazil
Maria Helena D'Aquino Benício
Affiliation:
Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, USP, Brazil
Aluísio J. D. Barros
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina Social, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Maria Antonieta de B. L. Carvalhaes, fax +55 14 3813 5264, email carvalha@fmb.unesp.br
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Abstract

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The relationship between malnutrition and social support was first suggested in the mid-1990s. Despite its plausibility, no empirical studies aimed at obtaining evidence of this association could be located. The goal of the present study was to investigate such evidence. A case–control study was carried out including 101 malnourished children (weight-for-age National Center for Health Statistics/WHO 5th percentile) aged 12–23 months, who were compared with 200 well-nourished children with regard to exposure to a series of factors related to their social support system. Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were carried out, odds ratios being adjusted for per capita family income, mother's schooling, and number of children. The presence of an interaction between income and social support variables was also tested. Absence of a partner living with the mother increased risk of malnutrition (odds ratio 2·4 (95 % CI 1·19, 4·89)), even after adjustment for per capita family income, mother's schooling, and number of children. The lack of economic support during adverse situations accounted for a very high risk of malnutrition (odds ratio 10·1 (95 % CI 3·48, 29·13)) among low-income children, but had no effect on children of higher-income families. Results indicate that receiving economic support is an efficient risk modulator for malnutrition among low-income children. In addition, it was shown that the absence of a partner living with the mother is an important risk factor for malnutrition, with an effect independent from per capita family income, mother's schooling, and number of children.

Keywords

Infant malnutritionSocial supportCase–control studies
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 94 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 383 - 389
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2005

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