OBJECTIVES: to demonstrate social, economic features and demographics of the nutritional profile of children at birth and at 12 months old, in addition to comprehensive data on breast-feeding, diarrhea and vaccination status in the first year of life. METHODS: a sample of 652 newborns were selected from September 1997 to August 1998 and followed-up during the first 18 months of life. These children lived in the urban areas of four municipalities South of Pernambuco. Data collection was performed through house visits. RESULTS: approximately 60% of the families had a per capita income £ ½ of the minimum wage and 41% of the mothers had less than four years of schooling. The median of exclusive and total breast-feeding was of 0 and 94 days respectively. Diarrhea incidence was of two episodes/per child/per age (< -2 scores z) and at 12 months was of 6,8% and 11% respectively. Only 66% of the children had their vaccination schedule completed at 12 months old. CONCLUSIONS: the development of this prospective research will contribute to a more in-depth understanding of the health and nutrition problems of children and to adequate intervention planning in that area.
Infant welfare; Infant; nutritional
