Programa estratégico de fortificação da alimentação infantil com micronutrientes em pó (Nutrisus) no estado do Acre: percepção dos coordenadores quanto à sua operacionalização

Abstract

Childhood is characterized as a period of intense growth and development. In the first years of life, inadequate supply of nutrients compromises the child's development and may lead to malnutrition. Inadequate dietary practices at this stage are closely related to morbidity and mortality in children, represented by malnutrition, overweight and specific deficiencies of micronutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin A deficiency. Thus, from 2014/2015, the Ministry of Health began to recommend the Strategic Program for the Fortification of Infant Food with Micronutrient Powder (NutriSUS). The objective of this research was to describe the perception of the coordinators about the nutrisus program in the state of Acre. The study is characterized as descriptive, with a predominantly qualitative approach, covering nine municipalities in Acre that adhered to/agreed on the program. The research participants were eleven NutriSUS coordinators, among health professionals and municipal education. The collection took place in a virtual way, through the application of an instrument containing 29 open and closed questions; for data analysis, the content analysis technique was used. All ethical aspects were respected with approval by the ethics and research committee of the Federal University of Ceará, under opinion n. 5,002,726. Eleven coordinators participated, most of them female, from the health area, aged between 30-49 years, with lato sensu specialization and experience in the area for more than ten years. The vast majority did not know the program, but received training. The results showed differences in the storage and interval between the recommended cycles, in addition, most of the interviewees mentioned that they adjusted the school calendar, but it was not necessary to adjust the school lunch menu. All municipalities stated that they used the monitoring form and that in 2020 NutriSUS did not take place in their municipality, due to the pandemic. Difficulties were found in communication and in the involvement of teams and turnover of professionals in the local reality of each municipality, regarding the operationalization process by the municipal teams, but which are subject to improvement. Difficulties were also encountered in the intersectoral work between health and education in conducting NutriSUS. In short, food and nutrition actions strengthen the attributes of primary health care and have a positive impact on the identification of vulnerable groups for health promotion and disease prevention that can reduce the impacts on family health. However, it requires investment in the qualification of the workforce.