Effectiveness of a supplementary feeding program in child weight gain
Rosângela Aparecida Augusto1, José Maria Pacheco de Souza
1Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. rosanut@usp.br
Insights
This study shows that the Projeto Vivaleite supplementary feeding program effectively improves child weight gain in children under two years old. The program demonstrated a more significant impact on infants with lower initial nutritional status.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Nutrition
- Pediatric Growth Monitoring
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood malnutrition remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Supplementary feeding programs are crucial interventions for improving nutritional status in vulnerable populations.
- Assessing the effectiveness of governmental programs is vital for evidence-based policy making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Projeto Vivaleite, a governmental supplementary feeding program, on the weight gain of low-income children.
- To determine if the program's effectiveness varies based on the initial nutritional status of participating children.
- To provide evidence on the efficacy of fortified milk distribution for child growth.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study utilized secondary data from 25,433 low-income children (6-24 months) in São Paulo, Brazil (2003-2008).
- Weight-for-age z-scores (WHO standards, 2007) were used to measure weight gain, assessed at program entry and every four months.
- Multilevel linear regression (mixed model) analyzed adjusted mean z-score differences between children at different stages of program participation.
Main Results:
- The Projeto Vivaleite program demonstrated a positive effect on child weight gain.
- The program's impact was more substantial for children initiating the program with lower weight-for-age z-scores.
- Mean adjusted gain z-scores were 0.183 (not compromised), 0.566 (risk of low weight), and 1.005 (low weight).
Conclusions:
- The governmental supplementary feeding program is effective in promoting weight gain for children under two years.
- The program shows a more pronounced beneficial effect for children entering with suboptimal nutritional status.
- Findings support the continued implementation and potential expansion of such targeted nutritional interventions.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a governmental supplementary feeding program in child weight gain.
Methods:
A cohort study including secondary data on 25,433 low-income children aged between six and 24 months, participating in a fortified milk distribution program known as Projeto Vivaleite, was performed in the state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, between 2003 and 2008. Weight gain was measured using weight-for-age z-score values, calculated according to the World Health Organization standards (2007). These values were obtained in the program routine, when a child started it and every four months during their stay. Children were divided into three z-score groups when starting the program: weight gain not compromised (z>-1); risk of low weight (-2< or =z <-1); and low weight (z<-2). Multilevel linear regression (mixed model) was used, enabling the comparison, at each age, of adjusted mean z-scores between children starting the program and those who had been participating for at least four months, adjusted for correlation between repeated measurements.
Results:
The program had a positive effect on child weight gain, varying according to child nutritional status when starting this program; among those who started it with weight gain not compromised, the mean adjusted gain z-score was 0.183; among those with risk of low weight, 0.566; and among those with low weight, 1.005.
Conclusions:
The program is effective for weight gain in children younger than two years, with a more pronounced effect on children who start the program under less favorable weight conditions.
