Abstract

SOUSA, Francisca Georgina Macedo de  and  ARAUJO, Thelma Leite de. Alimentary standard of children aged 6 to 24 months in rual area of Maranhão. Acta paul. enferm. [online]. 2005, vol.18, n.2, pp. 172-177. ISSN 1982-0194.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-21002005000200009.

The main goal of the transversal exploratory survey was to identify infantile alimentary practices adopted by families from the Village of São Pedro, in the municipality of Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão Northeastern of Brazil. The target population was represented by children aged 6 to 24 months, 118 altogether. The survey's data was collected through individual interviews with mothers. The survey found that in the target population, the maternal breastfeeding was widely practiced, therefore ,89,8% of the mothers informed that they breastfed their children. However, 97,4% of children had received teas, water and thick aliments before the six months of living and 2,6% of the children were exclusively breastfed. The fruits not been introduced in the children's diet properly. Cereals soup is the only kind of food for 62,7% of the children, characterizing a monotonous and poor diet in nutrients. Such results can lead us to prioritize the monitoring and reorientation to the actions or support to the infantile feeding.

Keywords : Breast feeding; Mixed feeding; Bottle feeding.