[Introduction of ultra-processed foods and associated factors among children under six months of age in the Southwest of the state of Bahia, Brazil].

The scope of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors with the introduction of ultra-processed food (UPF) among children under six months of age living in the southwest of Bahia state. This is an excerpt from a prospective cohort study conducted with pairs of mothers/babies. The introduction of UPF was defined by the intake of at least one UPF before the age of six months. Socioeconomic, maternal, paternal, gestational, and child-related information was gathered by the application of questionnaires. To analyze the factors associated with the outcome, Poisson regression was performed according to a hierarchical model. P-value<0.05 and 95% confidence interval are considered. A total of 300 mother/baby pairs were evaluated. Before 6 months, 31.3% of children have already received UPF. With greater introduction of cookies/biscuits (23.3%) and yogurt (14.3%). The introduction of UPF before six months of age was higher among families with lower income (p=0.038), lower maternal education (p=0.031), lower maternal (p=0.017) and paternal (p=0.013) age, among children who had cow's milk <6 months (p<0.001) and tea <30 days (p=0.005). The results demonstrate the need for interventions aimed at reducing the introduction of UPF, especially for low-income families, with less education and among younger parents.