Características epidemiológicas da desnutrição em crianças e adolescentes no Brasil

Abstract

Child malnutrition constitutes a serious public health challenge, affecting millions of children around the globe. This clinical condition, characterized by inadequate intake of essential nutrients, can lead to severe physical and cognitive consequences. The causes are multifaceted, encompassing poverty, lack of access to nutritious foods, and deficiencies in nutritional education. Malnutrition not only impairs growth and child development but also increases susceptibility to diseases. An epidemiological study of a descriptive nature with a quantitative approach, utilizing data from the Information and Informatics System of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), was conducted with a temporal focus from 2017 to 2023, considering variables such as year of care, regions of Brazil, and age groups from under 1 year to 14 years. According to the analyzed data, there were 30,012 hospitalizations for malnutrition-related diagnoses in children and adolescents, with a mortality rate of 1.98%, raising a significant alert. Moreover, among the evaluated years, 2022 recorded 5,569 hospitalizations, while the highest mortality rate occurred in 2018, at 2.29%. The Northeast region stood out with 11,590 cases of malnutrition, and the North region reported a mortality rate of 4.05%, the highest during the analyzed period. The age group most affected was children under 1 year, with 118,472 hospitalizations and the highest recorded mortality rate. Therefore, strategies are needed to minimize these hospitalizations, such as health and nutritional education, the creation and strengthening of food programs, nutritional monitoring, and child development support. These strategies, when implemented in a coordinated manner, can significantly contribute to the reduction of hospitalizations and deaths due to child malnutrition.