Aspectos comportamentais e ambientais associados às dificuldades alimentares na infância: Estudo com grupo controle

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with the presence of feeding difficulties (FD) in childhood, among dynamics of meals and parenting practices. Methods: This is an observational case-control study. For the group of children with FD, the information was taken from the the medical records of the patients. For the group of children without FD, a convenience sampling was used (approaching families in emergency care units). The interviews were based on a structured questionnaire and was applied in the same version for the case and control groups. Results: The case group was composed mainly of male individuals, while the control group was divided equally between genders. The mean age was lower in the case group when compared with the control group. There was a lower frequency of sharing meals in the families of children with FD, especially for reasons of stress, such as a higher occurrence of longer meals. There was even greater risk of developing FD in children who performed meals in inappropriate environments, with less autonomy, and caregivers in the case group showed a greater chance of not respecting the hunger signs of the child, using coercion and distraction strategies during meals. Conclusion: The authoritarian style was associated with the presence of FD. Parenting practices and all factors that affect meals should be considered and followed-up. The family dynamic and meals shown are modified in the group with FD. Such behaviors must be evaluated and guided during the monitoring of the food complaint, as they make up the scenario of the complaint.