The results showed a high prevalence of stunting and below-average results for cognitive/language development among the participating children. Both environmental and biological factors were related to growth and development. However, biological variables showed a greater association with growth, whereas environmental variables were associated with development.

Objective: To verify the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among preschoolers and to identify the associated risk factors. Methods: The study is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of children who were born and resident in Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. At the time of the study, all children were aged 60 months 6 five months. They were recruited after written informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians. The study was carried out between July 2009 and July 2010. In total 214 children provided a stool sample for examination on intestinal parasitic infections. Information on potential risk factors for parasitosis was obtained from parents and guardians of the children by a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for analysis. Results: Intestinal parasitic infections were found in 27.5% (n559) of children. The boys' infection prevalence (26.1%, n536) was slightly lower than the infection prevalence of the girls (30.3%, n523), but not statistically different (p50.51). Fourteen children, (23.7%) were infected with two or more parasite species and forty-five (76.3%) with single parasites. A low per capita income of family was strongly associated with an increased risk for an infection (OR52.89; P50.003). Preschoolers whose mothers did not work outside home had a significantly lower risk for infection (OR50.41; p50.01).

Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide. The aim was to identify the prevalence and incidence of anemia in children and to identify predictors of this condition, including intestinal parasites, social, nutritional and environmental factors, and comorbidities. A population-based cohort study was conducted in a sample of 414 children aged 6–71 months living in Novo Cruzeiro in the Minas Gerais State. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 by interview and included socio-economic and demographic information about the children and their families. Blood samples were collected for testing of hemoglobin, ferritin and C-reactive protein. Anthropometric measurements and parasitological analyses of fecal samples were performed. To identify risk factors associated with anemia multivariate analyses were performed using the generalized estimating equations (GEE). In 2008 and 2009, respectively, the prevalence rates of anemia were 35.9% (95%CI 31.2–40.8) and 9.8% (95%CI 7.2–12.9), the prevalence rates of iron deficiency were 18.4% (95%CI 14.7–22.6) and 21.8% (95%CI 17.8–26.2), and the incidence rates of anemia and iron deficiency were 3.2% and 21.8%. The following risk factors associated with anemia were: iron deficiency (OR = 3.2; 95%CI 2.0-.5.3), parasitic infections (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.2–2.8), being of risk of or being a low length/height-for-age (OR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.4–3.2), and lower retinol intake (OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.1–2.7), adjusted over time. Nutritional factors, parasitic infections and chronic malnutrition were identified as risk factors for anemia. These factors can be verified in a chronic process and have been classically described as risk factors for these conditions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of iodine deficiency in children aged 6 to 71 months in Novo Cruzeiro, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A total of 475 children, allocated by stratified probability sampling, were analyzed with respect to the iodine concentrations in the salt consumed by the family and urinary iodine. Iodine deficiency was verified in 34.4% of the children, of which 23.5% showed slight deficiency, 5.9% moderate and 5% serious deficiency. A difference in the distribution of iodine deficiency was observed between the urban and the rural environments (p < 0.001) where average urinary iodine concentrations of 150.8 and 114.3µg/L respectively were found. A greater proportion of iodine deficiency was observed among children where the proportion of iodine in the salt consumed was below the recommended level. Although expressive, iodine deficiency in Novo Cruzeiro is not a public health problem according to World Health Organization (WHO), The limitrophe distribution of the urinary iodine associated with low iodine levels in salt suggests that efforts to control this deficiency are not yet complete.

Bancos de Alimentos são equipamentos públicos de segurança alimentar e nutricional destinados a captar alimentos perdidos e desperdiçados ao longo da cadeia produtiva e distribuir para pessoas em vulnerabilidade social e alimentar. Este estudo buscou verificar se a operacionalização do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos interfere na eficácia quanto ao propósito precípuo de combate às perdas e desperdícios de alimentos de 10 Bancos de Alimentos públicos municipais de Minas Gerais. Estudo transversal descritivo, de enfoque avaliativo misto, integrando abordagens quantitativa e qualitativa. Avaliação externa, de natureza somativa e realizada “ex-post”. A coleta de dados se deu por entrevista estruturada, submetida à análise de conteúdo, e pesquisa documental retrospectiva para construção de indicadores de eficácia. Em 90% dos equipamentos verificou-se uma crescente participação do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos em detrimento ao cumprimento do objetivo primordial de combate às perdas e desperdícios de alimentos, interferindo na eficácia dos Bancos de Alimentos de Minas Gerais. Mais estudos são necessários para verificar se há resultados semelhantes em outros Bancos de Alimentos do país.