PROTEJA - estratégia nacional de prevenção e atenção à obesidade infantil e atitudes anti-obesidade entre profissionais de saúde em Cuité, Damião e Frei Martinho, na Paraíba.

Abstract

In 2021, the National Strategy for the Prevention and Attention to Childhood Obesity (PROTEJA) was created, established in Ordinance GM/MS no 1.862, of August 10, 2021, by initiative of the General Coordination of Food and Nutrition of the Department of of Health of the Secretariat of Primary Health Care of the Ministry of Health, with the aim of encouraging actions aimed at the care and prevention of childhood obesity throughout the national territory. objective to describe the profile and perceptions of health professionals about the National Strategy for Prevention and Attention to Childhood Obesity (PROTEJA); in addition to

investigating possible negative attitudes towards individuals with obesity through the Anti- Obesity Attitudes Scale (AFAT). This is a research with a quantitative approach and cross- sectional approach. The research sites were the municipalities of Cuité, Damião and Frei

Martinho, in Paraíba, Northeast region of Brazil. The sample was intentional, the participants were all professionals linked to the secretariats involved in the execution of PROTEJA in the municipalities. Data collection took place in a planned manner between September and October 2022 using the Google Forms® online platform. The Informed Consent Form will be sent via email. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. 97 professionals participated, 89.7% female, mean age was 37 (CI:35.71-39.68) years, 54.6% workers in Cuité, 30.9% in Damião and 14.4 % in Frei Martinho. The function of 33% was community health agent; nurse (17.5%); nursing technician (16.5%); health coordinator (7.2%); dentist (6.2%); oral health technician (5.2%); nutritionist (5.2%). The remainder of the sample consisted of other professionals working in PHC. Food and nutrition surveillance actions were the most performed and the least frequent was permanent education, the frequency between the actions investigated was mostly once or twice, food and nutrition surveillance actions had direct participation by 50.6 % of the professionals, as well as the actions carried out, were considered “good” or “very good” by the majority. It is observed that the general AFAT score and the total AFAT score did not have much difference between the three municipalities. However, the municipality of Frei Martinho stands out with the highest average on the general and total scale, as well as in the sub scales “social and character depreciation” and “weight and guilt control”. In the sub scale “non-physical and romantic attractiveness” the average was higher in the municipality of Cuité. According to the results obtained, it is observed that the actions of PROTEJA are being carried out, but they present weaknesses in different dimensions, even when dealing with actions that are expected in primary care. Through the AFAT, investigating the existence of possible stigmas and prejudice against obesity, it can be inferred that professionals working in the health area of the municipalities of Cuité, Damião and Frei Martinho, demonstrate some types of negative attitudes towards obese individuals and obesity and issues related to this condition. It is considered that the data can help managers in decision making.