Nutritional Status and Determinants of Short Stature in Children Enrolled in the Bolsa Familia Program

Objective: the aim was to get to know the nutritional status of children enrolled in the Bolsa Familia Program, comparing those who receive (BF group; n=262) with those that do not receive the benefit (NBF group; n=184), as well as knowing about the determinants of short stature. Methodology: was evaluated the nutritional status of 443 children in the age range between 6 and 84 months, using the reference of the World Health Organization; hierarchical multiple logistic regression was performed with the data of all children enrolled. Results: about the nutritional status, no statistical difference was found between the BF and NBF groups; the short stature was the most prevalent disorder (6.3%); and the risk factors were 'age under 48 months' and 'consumption of untreated water', the latter being a risk factor for malnutrition in both groups, although the risk was greater in the NBF group. Conclusion: it is understood that the beneficiaries can have their health better protected, possibly due to the determination in the fulfilling of the conditionalities.