Association of parental level of education and child factors on length-for-age indicator among socially vulnerable children aged 6-24 months from a Brazilian state using Structural Equation Modelling.

This cross-sectional study employs Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to explore both direct and indirect effects of parental level of education and child individual factors on the length-for-age outcomes in children aged 6-24 months assisted by the Bolsa Família Program in the State of Alagoas. A total of 1,448 children were analyzed by the SEM technique. A negative standardize direct effect (SED) of the children's younger age (SED: -0.06; p=0.017), the use of bottle feeding (SED: -0.11; p<0.001), and lack a minimum acceptable diet (SED: -0.09; p<0.001) on the length-for-age indicator was found. Being female (SDE: 0.08; p=0.001), the higher birth weight (SDE: 0.33; p<0.001), being ever breastfed (SED: 0.07; p=0.004) and a higher level of parental education (SDE: 0.09; p<0.001) showed a positive SDE effect on the child's length-for-age. The model also demonstrated a negative standardize indirect effect (SIE) of the sweet beverage consumption (SIE: -0.08; p=0.003) and a positive effect of being ever breastfed (SIE: 0.06; p=0.017) on the child's length-for-age through parental level of education as a mediator. This research underscores the crucial role of proper feeding practices and provide valuable insights for the development of targeted interventions, policies, and programs to improve the nutritional well-being and promote adequate linear growth and development among young children facing similar challenges.