ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BREASTFEEDING AND NUTRITIONAL STATE OF CHILDREN UNDER 24 MONTHS ATTENDED IN A CHILD'S HEALTH AMBULATORY AT A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH OF SANTA CATARINA

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the existence of an association between BF and nutritional status (EN) in children under 24 months attended at the Child Health Outpatient Clinic of a University in the South of Santa Catarina, in 2019.Methods: cross-sectional study with secondary data from individual medical records. Breastfeeding was assessed by the categories defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The EN was identified through the nutritional indices proposed by WHO. The analyzes were performed on STATA 16.1.Results: among the 191 evaluated, 83.43% received exclusive BF and 78.01%, BF at some point in their lives. Only 49.74% received breast milk at the last visit. Boys and <6 months received a higher frequency (p <0.05) of BF, than the other categories. Non-breastfed children had a higher mean (p <0.05) weight and height than those who were breastfed. There was no association between EN indicators and BF. 27.00% of the children had nutritional disorders.Conclusion: there was no association between EN and AM, however, there was a high frequency of nutritional disorders. Health promotion measures must be implemented promptly.