Segurança alimentar e nutricional de crianças menores de dois anos de idade, residentes em um município do semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

The Food Security and Nutrition situation (FSN) is achieved when the individual has regular and permanent access to adequate food in quality and quantity, without compromising access to other rights. The FSN situation is seen as the assurance of the human right to adequate food, which children under two years of age are considered as a vulnerable group. This study aimed to analyze the FSN of the children under two years of age attended in the Family Health Units in the urban area of Cuité, Paraíba. This is a transversal population-based study in which were used data derived from research conducted in Cuité during 2011.For the analysis of FSN was used a matrix of indicators, formulated from a concept guide FSN to children in this age group, is matrix is divided into age subgroups and within four dimensions of analysis that show direct connections with to the FSN of these children, where each dimension is composed of specific indicators that have pre-established criteria of success. For data collection was used a semi-structured questionnaire. The results of this study indicate that FSN situation is found unsatisfactory for all subgroups and the food and nutrition insecurity(IFSN) situation proved to be at high levels in the same, however, the distribution of the severity of IFSN was different among between the groups, as for younger children 1 year was verified considerable levels of moderate IFSN, classifying them as the most exposed to IFSN. The results also indicated that IFSN situation found to be related with 3 risk factors such as inadequate feeding practices, compromised health status and the discontinuity and ineffective care provided by health services, which are aggravated by unfavorable living conditions. This way is concluded that the studied population lives in their great majority with the situation of IFSN and the 3 risk factors for this situation are related in a process of cause and effect, in which the health status of children was shown to be a direct result of unfavorable living conditions, inadequate care practice dispensed by those responsible and practice of erroneous feeding, and the fragility of the health services showed make it difficult child protection for installation of these risk factors, forming a vicious cycle because it is understood that the utilization of health services effective and continuous has the role of protecting children from IFSN in adverse conditions. Thus, it is considered that facing children IFSN situation in this age group should be based on a public policy agenda that promote intersectionality among the various sectors that develop actions related to dimensions of the FSN phenomenon.