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Accepted manuscript

Association of parental level of education and child factors on length-for-age indicator among socially vulnerable children aged 6-24 months from a Brazilian state using Structural Equation Modelling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2024

Marília Moura e Mendes Normande*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Botucatu St., 740, Vila Clementino, 04023-062 São Paulo, Brazil
Laryssa Cristiane da Silva
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, A.C. Simões Campus, Maceió, AL, Brazil
Risia Cristina Egito de Menezes
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, A.C. Simões Campus, Maceió, AL, Brazil
Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo Florêncio
Affiliation:
Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, Botucatu St., 740, Vila Clementino, 04023-062 São Paulo, Brazil Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, A.C. Simões Campus, Maceió, AL, Brazil
Ana Paula Grotti Clemente
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Alagoas, A.C. Simões Campus, Maceió, AL, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Marília Moura e Mendes Normande, Mailing address: Dr. Antônio Cansanção St., 847 apt. 803, Ponta Verde - Maceió – AL – Brazil, Zip code: 57035-190, E-mail: [email protected], Phone: +55 (82) 98826-8889
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Abstract

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This cross-sectional study employs Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore both direct and indirect effects of parental level of education and child individual factors on the length-for-age outcomes in children aged 6-24 months assisted by the Bolsa Família Program in the State of Alagoas. A total of 1,448 children were analyzed by the SEM technique. A negative standardize direct effect (SED) of the children’s younger age (SED: -0.06; p=0.017), the use of bottle feeding (SED: -0.11; p<0.001), and lack a minimum acceptable diet (SED: -0.09; p<0.001) on the length-for-age indicator was found. Being female (SDE: 0.08; p=0.001), the higher birth weight (SDE: 0.33; p<0.001), being ever breastfed (SED: 0.07; p=0.004) and a higher level of parental education (SDE: 0.09; p<0.001) showed a positive SDE effect on the child’s length-for-age. The model also demonstrated a negative standardize indirect effect (SIE) of the sweet beverage consumption (SIE: -0.08; p=0.003) and a positive effect of being ever breastfed (SIE: 0.06; p=0.017) on the child’s length-for-age through parental level of education as a mediator. This research underscores the crucial role of proper feeding practices and provide valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions, policies, and programs to improve the nutritional well-being and promote adequate linear growth and development among young children facing similar challenges.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© The Authors 2024