Marcadores do consumo alimentar: aplicabilidade da ferramenta em estratégias saúde da família em um município da fronteira oeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The “Markers of Food Consumption” (MFC) form is one of the tools of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System and can be used by any health care professional and allows the enhancement of Food and Nutrition Surveillance Care. Studies, however, show the low coverage and use of this tool. This research aimed to investigate the knowledge and use of the MFC form by the health care professionals responsible for the family health strategies (FHS) of the city of Uruguaiana / RS besides characterizing the population of a FHS of this city. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with responsible health professionals (nurses) by the city's FHS and users attending an FHS. It was possible to verify the low knowledge of the tool by the health professionals and its applicability with the population made it possible to characterize the predominant eating habits, which revealed the prevalence of food consumption b watching TV, using the computer and / or cell phone and high consumption of beverages sweetened by this population. Thus, the importance of the use of tools that help in the diagnosis of the health conditions of the population, to guide actions and achieve the integrality of the care is highlighted.