Food and nutrition surveillance of children: the most common problems faced by primary care professionals

Abstract

Objective: to identify the most frequent feeding and nutrition problems in the care of children under two years of age in primary care. Method: cross-sectional study with primary care professionals between March and April 2021 by electronic questionnaire, via messaging application, using the snowball technique. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results: 122 professionals participated; most of whom were nutritionists (42.7%); 67.2% were linked to the Family Health Strategy. The most frequent problems were: consumption of ultra-processed foods (86%); overweight for age (73%), and early food introduction (41.8%). Overweight and/or underweight were the main reasons for referral to the nutritionist (59.7%) and also the most common issues addressed by nutritionists (80%). Conclusions: consumption of ultra-processed foods, overweight, and early food introduction are the most common problems in the care of children under two years of age. The importance of training for food and nutrition surveillance is reinforced with a view to greater problem-solving capacity in primary care.