OBJECTIVES: to discuss the experience, conception and development of a simplified model to evaluate the nutritional status and correlated health situation of mothers and children using the "national vaccination day" as strategy, when 90% of children and 80% of mothers appear at the vaccination center. METHODS: five health units of vaccination were observed in a town from the coastal area (Zona da Mata) of Pernambuco. The sample size was estimated considering a prevalence error from 3% to 5% in relation to the basic variables of interest, such as, prevalence of malnutrition, anemia, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, breastfeeding, monitoring of growth and development and vaccine situation, and four aspects from mothers: body mass index, prevalence of anemia, antenatal care and educational level. RESULTS: the study involved a sample of 579 children and 417 mothers. Among the mothers, 80,3% were literate. 18,0% of the children had had acute respiratory infection in the last week, while only 7,4% of those who were from six to 12 months had an incomplete vaccine situation in relation to Sabin and DPT. 37,8% were anemic and 11% showed stature deficit. The mean and the median of exclusive breastfeeding were 11,5 and 9,0 days, respectively. We observed twice as many obese women as thin women (10,6%; 4,9% respectively), and 16,2% were anemic. CONCLUSIONS: the results were similar to the expected values, compared with previous epidemiological studies that took place in Pernambuco state, which showed the validity of the simplified model in Brazil and others countries that use a "national vaccination day" as a strategy.
Nutrition assessment; Maternal and child health
