OBJECTIVES: to investigate the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), anemia and intestinal parasitic infections among children of a slum of the "Homeless Movement". METHODS: this is a cross-sectional study involving 137 children aged from six to 60 months. Malnutrition was defined by an z score < -2 of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ) and weight for height (WHZ) relatively to the NCHS. The World Health Organization method (haemoglobin colour scale) was used to characterize anemia: hemoglobin concentrations < 11g/dL. All children were submited to feces parasitological examination. RESULTS: the prevalence of nutritional deficiency for WAZ, HAZ and WHZ were, respectively, 22,6%, 16,1% and 1,5%. Almost all children were infected by, at least, one parasite (83,2%) and, among these 50,9% were multiinfested frequent. Ascaris + Trichuris (15,7%) and Ascaris + Giardia (13%) were the most frequent association. These also were the most commonly found parasites. Anemia was detected in 96,4% of the children. CONCLUSIONS: considering the high prevalence of PEM, anemia and intestinal parasitosis and also the synergic effect between undernutrition and infections, the health situation of this community is extremely precarious, so demanding a prompt intervention to guarantee better growing and developing conditions for those children.
Nutritional assessment; Protein-energy malnurition; Anemia iron-deficiency; Intestinal diseases; parasitic
