Insegurança alimentar e o desenvolvimento de crianças durante a primeira infância

Abstract

Food insecurity is a worrying risk factor for the full development of children, as it can negatively impact multiple areas and milestones of early childhood. In this sense, it can manifest itself in different scenarios, especially in the form of malnutrition. Therefore, this study aims to analyze evidence related to the association between food insecurity and malnutrition, in order to detect possible delays in child development during early childhood. To this end, an integrative literature review methodology was adopted, the purpose of which is to gather research results and provide a better understanding of a given phenomenon. The guiding question of this study was developed using the mnemonic PCC. The research, conducted through online searches, consisted of articles available in the following databases: Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), accessed via the Virtual Health Library (VHL); Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), accessed via PubMed; Scopus; and Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). The selected articles were published in the last 10 years, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and are available in full. The resulting sample was analyzed according to the levels of scientific evidence, based on the criteria developed by OXFORD (2009). Thus, after considering the inclusion criteria, eight (8) articles that answered the research question were selected. From the results obtained, there was a predominance of observational and descriptive approaches, which is expected in social and population-based research. In addition, it was possible to identify consistent evidence on the harm caused by food insecurity to areas of child development, especially in the cognitive dimension – highlighting language – and fine motor skills, evidenced by difficulties in grasping, impulsive movements, and insecure tracing. The deleterious effects of malnutrition on growth and learning were also observed, highlighting the need to expand investigations into food insecurity during early childhood. In this sense, new studies are essential to deepen the understanding of the topic and support more effective actions for prevention and promotion of healthy child development.