Association between maternal socioeconomic factors and nutritional outcomes in children under 5 years of age

Objective: To estimate the association between maternal socioeconomic factors and the occurrence of nutritional outcomes in children under five years of age in a representative sample of the Brazilian population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that evaluated data from the latest National Survey of Children and Women's Demographics and Health, carried out in Brazil in 2006–2007. Maternal employment and maternal level of schooling were the main exposures. The following nutritional outcomes in children were considered: height/age 2SD for overweight. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were utilized as the regression method. Results: After adjustments, it was observed that children whose mothers had low level of schooling had a higher chance of having short stature (OR = 3.97, 95% CI, 1.23–12.80) and children whose mothers worked outside the home were more likely to have excess weight (OR = 1.57, 95% CI, 1.02–2.42). Maternal employment was not associated with short stature in children (OR = 1.09, 95% CI, 0.67–1.77). Conclusion: Maternal level of schooling was associated with short stature in children and maternal employment with overweight, indicating the need to take into account the socioeconomic factors when proposing programs and strategies aimed at health and nutrition improvement of children, considering inter-sectoral interventions. Resumo: Objetivo: Estimar a associação entre fatores socioeconômicos maternos e a ocorrência de desfechos nutricionais nas crianças menores de cinco anos em uma amostra representativa da população brasileira. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal que avaliou dados da última Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher, realizada no Brasil em 2006-2007. Trabalho materno e escolaridade materna foram as exposições principais. Considerou os seguintes desfechos nutricionais nas crianças: estatura/idade 2DP para excesso de peso. Utilizou-se o método regressão de equações de estimação generalizadas (GEE). Resultados: Após ajustes, observou-se que crianças cujas mães possuíam baixa escolaridade tiveram maiores chances de baixa estatura (OR = 3,97; IC 95% 1,23-12,80) e crianças cujas mães trabalhavam fora de casa apresentaram maior chance de excesso de peso (OR = 1,57; IC 95% 1,02-2,42). O trabalho materno não se associou a baixa estatura em crianças (OR = 1,09; IC 95% 0,67-1,77). C