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Purpose: To understand malnutrition recovery at a Guatemalan Nutrition Rehabilitation Center (NRC) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design and methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on-site in November 2022. The NRC is located on the outskirts of Antigua, Guatemala. They manage the care of 15-20 children at a time, providing food, medicine, and health assessments. A total of 156 records were included (126 prior to the onset of COVID; 30 after the onset of COVID). Descriptive variables collected were age, gender, severity of malnutrition, height, weight, amoxicillin, multivitamins, nebulizer/bronchodilator, and zinc. Principal results: There was no significant difference in time-to-recovery between COVID cohorts. Mean time-to-recovery was 5.65 weeks, or 39.57 days (SD = 25.62, 95% CI [35.5, 43.7]) among all recovered cases (n = 149). The cohort admitted after the onset of COVID-19 (March 1, 2020) had a significantly higher weight gain and discharge weight. In the total sample, amoxicillin was the only significant predictor variable for recovery time; with children receiving it being more likely to recover in >6 weeks. The few differences between cohorts was possibly attributed to the sample after the onset of COVID-19. These records had minimal sociocultural data. Major conclusions: Conducting a family needs assessment on admission could identify sociocultural factors that may facilitate nutritional recovery, such as housing conditions and potable water access. Further research is needed to more fully understand the complexities that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on childhood malnutrition recovery.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine if oral nutritional supplementation of picky eater children has a beneficial effect in addition to nutritional guidance on anthropometric parameters, nutrient intake, appetite, physical activity, and health complications. METHODS: This is a randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial that included Brazilian picky eater children aged 24 to 60 months. The individuals were randomized into a control group (CG) (n = 17) and an intervention group (IG) (n = 18), and were followed up in seven meetings for 180 days (baseline plus one meeting every 30 days). The CG received nutritional guidance for food selectivity, while the IG received the same guidance plus oral nutritional supplementation. Anthropometric and nutrient intake assessments were carried out, and appetite, physical activity and health complications were investigated. RESULTS: In the IG, the z-score of weight and height increased significantly over time (p < 0.05), while the body fat percentage (BFP) and BMI z-score remained unchanged. The percentage of inadequate intake of vitamins D, C and folate reduced in the IG over time compared to the CG (p < 0.05). In the IG, the score assigned by parents to the appetite scale increased over time (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in the scores on the physical activity and global health scales, and in the number of health complications. CONCLUSIONS: Picky eater children that were supplemented increased their weight not by gaining fat, but due to an increase in stature, as shown by BMI z-score and BFP, that remained unchanged. Furthermore, they showed a decrease in inadequate micronutrient intake during the intervention. An improvement in appetite was also observed over time, attesting to the benefit of supplementation.

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar a efetividade de programa governamental de suplementação alimentar no ganho ponderal de crianças. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte com dados secundários de 25.433 crianças de baixa renda com idade entre seis e 24 meses que ingressaram em programa de distribuição de leite fortificado Projeto Vivaleite, realizado no Estado de São Paulo de 2003 a 2008. O ganho ponderal foi medido por meio dos valores de escores z de peso para idade, calculados pelo padrão da Organização Mundial da Saúde (2007), obtidos, na rotina do programa, ao ingressar e a cada quatro meses durante a permanência. As crianças foram divididas em três grupos de escore z ao entrar: sem comprometimento de peso (z > -1); risco de baixo peso (-2 < z < -1) e baixo peso (z < -2). Utilizou-se regressão linear multinível (modelo misto), permitindo a comparação, em cada idade, das médias ajustadas do escore z dos ingressantes e participantes há pelo menos quatro meses, ajustadas para correlação entre medidas repetidas. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se efeito positivo do programa no ganho de peso das crianças, variando em função do estado nutricional ao ingressar; para as que entraram sem comprometimento de peso, o ganho médio ajustado foi 0,183 escore z;entre as que entraram com risco de baixo peso, foi 0,566; e entre as ingressantes com baixo peso, foi 1,005 escore z. CONCLUSÕES: O programa é efetivo para o ganho ponderal de crianças menores de dois anos, com efeito mais pronunciado entre as crianças que entram no programa em condições menos favoráveis de peso.

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RESUMO

Introdução: A avaliação dos resultados de políticas públicas de suplementação alimentar em condições reais de sua operacionalização (efetividade) é um instrumento imprescindível para área de saúde pública. Objetivos: Avaliar a efetividade de programa governamental de suplementação alimentar no crescimento de crianças, segundo o estado nutricional ao ingressar. Métodos: Estudo de coorte com dados secundários de 25.433 crianças de baixa renda com idade entre 6 a 24 meses que ingressaram em programa de distribuição de leite fortificado "Projeto Vivaleite" de 2003 a 2008, em 311 municípios do Estado de São Paulo. O crescimento foi medido por meio dos valores de escore z de peso para idade (PI), calculados pelo padrão OMS/2006, obtidos, na rotina do programa, ao ingressar e a cada 4 meses durante a permanência. Os critérios de inclusão foram ter idade ao ingressar entre 6 a 24 meses, ter pelo menos duas pesagens, incluindo a obtida na entrada, e não ter relatos de problemas de saúde. As crianças foram divididas em três grupos de escore z ao entrar: sem comprometimento de peso (z> -1); risco de baixo peso (-2 ≤z< -1) e baixo peso (z<-2). Utilizou-se regressão linear multinível (modelo misto), permitindo a comparação, em cada idade, das médias ajustadas do escore z de ingressantes e participantes há pelo menos quatro meses, ajustadas para correlação entre medidas repetidas. Resultados: Verificou-se efeito positivo do Programa no ganho de peso das crianças, variando em função do estado nutricional ao ingressar; para as que entraram sem comprometimento de peso o ganho médio ajustado foi 0,1827 escore z, entre as que entraram com risco de baixo peso foi 0,5659 e entre as ingressantes com baixo peso foi 1,0049 escore z. Conclusões: O programa é efetivo para o crescimento infantil, medido pelo escore z PI, com efeito mais pronunciado entre as crianças que entram no programa em condições menos favoráveis de peso.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a state-run food supplementation program for child growth according to childrens nutritional status at enrollment. METHODS: Cohort study including secondary data of 25,433 low-income children aged between 6 and 24 months enrolled in a fortified milk program "Projeto Vivaleite" in 311 cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2003 and 2008. Children's growth was assessed based on weight-for-age (WA) z-scores, estimated following WHO criteria (2006). Data was routinely collected at the program enrollment and every 4 months. Inclusion criteria were: being 6 to 24 months of age at enrollment; having at least two weight measures including the first measure at enrollment; and not having any ill health conditions. At enrollment, children were categorized into three groups based on their z-scores: no compromised weight gain (z> 1); at risk of low weight (-2 ≤z< -1), and low weight (z< -2). Multilevel linear regression analysis (mixed model) was performed for comparison, considering age, of adjusted average z-scores between new children enrolled and those in the program for at least four months, adjusted for correlation between repeat measures. RESULTS: The program had a positive effect on children's weight gain. Based on their nutritional status at enrollment, adjusted average weight gain z-score was 0,1827 in children with compromised weight gain, 0,5659 in those at risk of low weight, and 1,0049 in those with low weight. CONCLUSIONS: The milk program is effective for child growth, as measured by WA z-scores. The most pronounced effect was seen among children who showed less favorable levels of weight at enrollment.

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