Banca de DEFESA: RAISA ACACIO FRANCA COSTA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : RAISA ACACIO FRANCA COSTA
DATE: 10/03/2026
TIME: 15:30
LOCAL: Sala de Aulas GEP/MEJC
TITLE:

COMPLEMENTARY FEEDNIG IN PREMATURE INFANTS: ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MATERNAL NUTRITION

KEY WORDS:

Eating, Premature, Complementary Feeding

PAGES: 67
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Nutrição
SUMMARY:

Introduction: Maternal dietary habits play a fundamental role in shaping children’s eating patterns, acting as a direct modulator of the quality and variety of foods offered during the complementary feeding period. This influence becomes even more critical in contexts of greater vulnerability, such as prematurity, in which developmental particularities and condition-related challenges may hinder the appropriate introduction of new foods. The combination of inadequate maternal feeding practices and the complexities of prematurity may predispose children to undesirable dietary patterns, with short- and long-term repercussions. Early or inappropriate complementary feeding is associated with an increased risk of several health conditions, including food allergies, celiac disease, and childhood obesity. However, studies specifically investigating the relationship between maternal dietary intake and complementary feeding practices among preterm infants remain scarce, highlighting the need for further research in this area. Objective: To analyze the influence of maternal dietary intake on complementary feeding practices among preterm infants. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study was conducted with mother–infant dyads, including preterm infants followed at the outpatient clinic of Januário Cicco Maternity School. Maternal socioeconomic data (income, educational level, and marital status) and child-related data (anthropometric measurements and feeding practice indicators according to World Health Organization guidelines) were collected. Dietary intake of the dyads was assessed using 24-hour dietary recalls. A significance level of p < 0.05 was adopted for statistical analyses. Descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, and inferential analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between maternal dietary intake (independent variable) and infant complementary feeding practices (dependent variable). Associations were assessed using the chi-square test, agreement was evaluated using the Kappa test, and bivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates were applied to identify maternal predictors of infant outcomes. Nutritional assessment was based on the analysis of dietary recalls using the Brazilian Food Composition Table (TBCA) and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), with the Multiple Source Method (MSM) employed to estimate habitual nutrient intake. Results: The final sample consisted of 83 mother–infant dyads. The median age of infants was 13 months. Early complementary feeding (before 6 months of corrected age) was observed in 22% of the population, and 88% of the children were breastfed at some point in life. Regarding the quality of complementary feeding, a concerning finding was that 66.2% of the children consumed some type of unhealthy food. However, a positive aspect was that 92% of the children consumed fruit or vegetables. Analysis of maternal diet revealed a consumption profile with significant deficiencies: most mothers reported the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods classified as unhealthy in their dietary recalls. Additionally, high prevalences of inadequate intake of essential micronutrients were identified, including vitamins D, E, A, and B6, as well as calcium and selenium. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between maternal and child consumption of unhealthy foods (p = 0.028), as well as between maternal and child consumption of fruits and vegetables (p = 0.004). Binary logistic regression demonstrated that maternal consumption of unhealthy foods, after adjustment for maternal educational level, was a significant predictor of the child’s consumption of these same foods. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a clear association between maternal feeding practices and those of their preterm infants, highlighting the impact of maternal educational level in this relationship. The high prevalence of inadequate intake of essential micronutrients among mothers is a concerning finding, given the potential impact of maternal nutrition on child health, either through breastfeeding or through the modeling of family eating habits. These results reinforce the crucial importance of developing and implementing food and nutrition education strategies targeted at mothers of preterm infants. Such interventions should adopt a comprehensive approach, promoting not only the qualitative adequacy of the child’s diet but also the adoption of healthy food choices by the entire family, aiming to improve nutritional status and prevent short- and long-term health outcomes.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externa ao Programa - 1837366 - DANIELLE SOARES BEZERRA - nullExterna à Instituição - JOSIANE STELUTI - UNIFESP
Interna - 2578592 - KARLA DANIELLY DA SILVA RIBEIRO RODRIGUES
Presidente - 2315640 - MARCIA MARILIA GOMES DANTAS LOPES