Socio-demographic and nutritional characteristics of Brazilian children under 2 years of age who were beneficiaries of conditional cash transfer programs in 2006/Caracteristicas sociodemograficas e nutricionais de criancas brasileiras menores de 2 anos beneficiaries de programas de transferencia condicionada de renda em 2006

The conditional cash transfer programs (PTCR) seek to combat poverty and hunger and to ensure food security. Children under the age of two of beneficiary families are more vulnerable to environmental conditions. This study seeks to describe this population according to socio-economic, demographic and nutritional variables. Secondary data from the National Survey on Demography and Health of Women and Children (PNDS-2006) were used. Data were described using mean and standard deviations. Associations were described using the chi-square test with confidence intervals of 95%. Of the 1735 children, 29.4% were PCTR beneficiaries with average family income of R$430.20 and average benefits of R$75. Among those living in the Northeast or in the rural area of the country, one in every three received benefits. Among those experiencing severe food insecurity, 52.3% were PTCR beneficiaries. Children from socio-economic classes D and E and whose mothers had less than four years education were associated with PTCR. Among the nutritional disorders of child beneficiaries, overweight for age prevailed. Of those who ceased exclusive breastfeeding in less than two months, 31.2% were beneficiaries. The need for preventive nutritional education was identified in order to optimize the use of benefits. Key words Public policies, Poverty, Food and nutrition security, Nutrition assessment Programas de transferencia condicionada de renda (PTCR) visam o combate a pobreza e a fome e a garantia da seguranca alimentar. Criancas menores de 2 anos de familias beneficiarias sao mais vulneraveis as condicoes ambientais. Este estudo objetiva caracterizar esta populacao segundo variaveis socioeconomicas, demograficas e nutricionais. Utilizaram-se dados secundarios da Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saude da Crianca e da Mulher (PNDS-2006). Descreveramse os dados em media e desvios-padrao. Para as associacoes utilizou-se o teste qui-quadrado e intervalos de confianca de 95%. Das 1735 criancas 29,4% eram beneficiarias de PTCR com renda media familiar de R$430,20 e valor medio dos beneficios de R$75. Dentre as que residiam no Nordeste ou na regiao rural do pais, uma em cada tres recebiam PTCR. Entre as que viviam em inseguranca alimentar grave, 52,3% pertenciam a PTCR. Classes economicas D e E e baixa escolaridade materna associaram-se a PTCR. Entre os desvios nutricionais das criancas beneficiarias, prevaleceu o peso elevado para idade. Das que interromperam o aleitamento materno exclusivo an