OBJECTIVES: to describe the strategy of the "SISVAN-SP" applicative implementation in the state of São Paulo and analyze the information generated by the System concerning the magnitude of nutritional deviations in children under five years old. METHODS: primary health units in the municipalities were in charge for collecting and entering data using an information system named "SISVAN-SP" an applicative developed by the Health Institute of the Health Secretariat of the State of São Paulo (SES/SP). Monthly available data of the system are: Health Regional Management, municipality, primary health unit, and medical file number, date of birth, date of visit, gender and classification of the children's nutritional condition. Children with weight/age < percentile 3 were considered undernourished and children with age/weight > 97 of the reference curve from the National Center of Health Statistics were considered in risk of overweight. RESULTS: malnutrition prevalence varied from 3.1% to 4.2% and overweight risk from 4.0 to 4.8% in the different municipalities; information quality and System coverage, even when variable were consistent with epidemiological information. CONCLUSIONS: the "SISVAN-SP" applicative developed by SES/SP and used to monitor the nutritional condition of children up to five years old seen at the Primary Health Units was considered useful to assess and discuss aspects of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN), such as data coverage and quality. Results support decision making aimed at children's weight prevention and control.
Food and nutritional surveillance system; Children; Underweight; overweight; Data quality
