Infant Feeding Practices and the Effect in Reducing Functional Constipation 6 Years Later: A Randomized Field Trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Nutrition

Background:

• Functional constipation (FC) is a common pediatric condition with significant health implications.
• Infant feeding practices are crucial determinants of early childhood health outcomes.
• Effective health worker training can improve adherence to recommended feeding guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of health worker training on infant feeding practices.
• To assess the effect of this training on the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) in children at six years of age.

Main Methods:

• A cluster randomized field trial was conducted in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
• Health centers were randomized into intervention (training on "Ten Steps for Healthy Feeding") and control groups.
• Prevalence of FC was assessed at age six using Rome III criteria.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of FC was significantly lower in the intervention group (15.0%) compared to the control group (23.9%).
• Children in the intervention group had a 38% lower probability of being constipated (PR=0.62; 95% CI 0.44-0.87).

Conclusions:

• Health worker training on the "Ten Steps for Healthy Feeding" program is an effective strategy.
• This training intervention successfully reduced the prevalence of functional constipation in children by age six.