Aleitamento materno e perfil antropométrico de crianças com doença falciforme acompanhadas em serviço de referência em triagem neonatal

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study breastfeeding history (BF) and the anthropometric status of children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). MethodsA cross‐sectional study of 357 children with SS and SC hemoglobinopathies aged between 2 and 6 years old receiving regular follow‐up at a Newborn Screening Reference Service (NSRS) between November 2007 and January 2009. The outcome was anthropometric status and the exposures were: BF pattern, type of hemoglobinopathy and child's age and sex. ResultsThe average (SD) age was 3.7 (1.1) years, 52.9% were boys and 53.5% had SS hemoglobinopathy. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding (EBR) up to six months of age was 31.5%, the median EBR times (p25‐p75) was 90.0 (24.0‐180.0) days and the median weaning ages (p25‐p75) was 360.0 (90.0‐20.0) days respectively. Normal W/H children experienced EBR for an average duration almost four times longer than malnourished children (p=0.01), and were weaned later (p<0.05). Height deficit was found in 5.0% of children, while all the children with severe short stature had SS hemoglobinopathy and were over 4 years of age. ConclusionsEBR time and weaning age were greater than found in the literature, which is a possible effect of the multidisciplinary follow‐up. Duration of EBR and later weaning were associated with improved anthropometric indicators.