OBJECTIVE: To compare the nutritional status and the prevalence of iron deficiency among children enrolled in a day care center before and after 15 months of nutritional management. METHODS: Cohort study of 52 children, aged 32 to 78 months, evaluated before and after treatment of anemia and nutritional disturbs in a no-profit day care center in Catanduva, São Paulo, Brazil. The nutritional status was classified according to World Health Organization (2006) criteria. Iron deficiency anemia was detected by hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Additional characteristics of non-eutrophic children were obtained by interview with their mothers. RESULTS: Among the evaluated children, 2% presented acute malnutrition and 8% were obese, without significant difference between the two periods of the study. Abnormal values of hemoglobin and/or ferritin were noted in 12% of the children. During the study period, two new cases of obesity and five cases of iron deficiency were observed. Interview with the mothers of non-eutrophic children prior to intervention showed that 63% of them looked for medical assistance in order to treat the nutritional disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The number of children with nutritional disorders and iron deficiency decreased. New cases of obesity and anemia indicate the need to adopt effective preventive measures, both in the day care center and in the children's homes.
child; nutritional status; anemia; anemia, iron-deficiency
