Ultra‐processed food consumption among infants in primary health care in a city of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence of ultra‐processed food intake among children under one year of age and to identify associated factors. MethodsA cross‐sectional design was employed. We interviewed 198 mothers of children aged between 6 and 12 months in primary healthcare units located in a city of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Specific foods consumed in the previous 24h of the interview were considered to evaluate the consumption of ultra‐processed foods. Variables related to mothers’ and children's characteristics as well as primary healthcare units were grouped into three blocks of increasingly proximal influence on the outcome. A Poisson regression analysis was performed following a statistical hierarchical modeling to determine factors associated with ultra‐processed food intake. ResultsThe prevalence of ultra‐processed food intake was 43.1%. Infants that were not being breastfed had a higher prevalence of ultra‐processed food intake but no statistical significance was found. Lower maternal education (prevalence ratio 1.55 [1.08–2.24]) and the child's first appointment at the primary healthcare unit having happened after the first week of life (prevalence ratio 1.51 [1.01–2.27]) were factors associated with the consumption of ultra‐processed foods. ConclusionsHigh consumption of ultra‐processed foods among children under 1 year of age was found. Both maternal socioeconomic status and time until the child's first appointment at the primary healthcare unit were associated with the prevalence of ultra‐processed food intake.