ABSTRACT
The aim of this article was to analyze the perception of nurses about the nutritional care of children under five years of age. It is a qualitative study involving 18 professionals from family health teams of two municipalities in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa, Paraíba. An interview was developed focusing on the importance of developing food and nutrition actions for the nutritional care of child. The interviews were conducted through a questionnaire. The material was submitted to the content analysis and from it emerged four thematic categories. The nurses pointed out the usefulness of the manuals of the Ministry of Health for the actions of nutritional care and education in healthy food as the most important practice of this care. However, they highlight the socioeconomic situation of families and the qualification of professionals as obstacles for the development of actions. Furthermore, they also pointed out the importance of the nutritionist’s work with the multidisciplinary team for the development of food and nutrition actions. In addition to the implicit need for training in nutrition, it is evident that the technical documents of the Ministry of Health and nutritionists are valued for improving the nutritional care of children under five years of age.
KEYWORDS
Primary Health Care; Family Health Strategy; Health services; Nutrition programs and policies