Vigilância nutricional em unidades de atenção primária à saúde: operacionalização da antropometria após capacitação das equipes de saúde

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometry is composed of techniques that assess nutritional status and enable monitoring of the health of individuals and collectivities. For greater reliability of measurements, periodic training in anthropometry is necessary, in addition to correct use and maintenance of equipment. Objective: To evaluate the operational procedures adopted by health professionals to measure anthropometric measurements after training. Methods: Cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study with professionals who perform anthropometry in 35 Primary Health Care Units in the observed municipality, trained in April/June 2019. Data collection took place from November/2019 March/2020; the procedures adopted to measure anthropometric measurements in different stages of life were observed and recorded, the professional who performed the measurements and ascertained the environment and conditions of use of the available equipment. Results: In 91.4% of the units, anthropometric measurements were performed in the reception room, but only 2.9% contained all equipment/instruments for anthropometry. The professionals who performed the most measurements were nursing assistants/technicians (61.5%) and nurses (28.5%). In all phases of life, errors were found in the measurement of weight and length/height, being more frequent those related to the position of the individual in the equipment and alignment, use of props and shoes by the evaluated. Conclusion: Despite having participated in training in anthropometry, health professionals still make mistakes that compromise the quality of nutritional status information, for all phases of life, including positioning equipment correctly in the environment. Permanent training and monitoring of measures measured need to be implemented to ensure nutritional surveillance.