Food and nutrition surveillance system in municipalities of paraíba: data reliability, coverage and management's perception

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of anthropometric data of under-five children based on the SISVAN-Web, describing the coverage of the System and aspects of its implementation. Methods: Cross-sectional study developed in two cities of Paraíba. The sample consisted of 18 family health teams and 324 children, randomly selected. Anthropometric measures (weight and height) were collected (1) by the researcher using standard equipment (R); (2) by the researcher using service equipment (RS) and; (3) during routine service (S). Municipal managers answered a questionnaire about the System. Results: Among the 319 children observed, 10.28% were overweight/age, 14.02% were overweight and 7.16% were stunted. Coverage was 2.8% in one municipality and 3.3% in the other, being higher for children and smaller for the elderly. The agreement between S and R were weaker than those with RS, especially for height/age (Kappa=0.38) and BMI/age (Kappa=0.39). The measurements obtained in S overestimated overweight and stunting. Managers mentioned that the information of the System is restricted to the health sector. Conclusions:The study pointed to major shortcomings related to SISVAN-Web. The system's coverage and reliability of anthropometric measurements were both low. The System is not used to its full potential. ---------- ResumenObjetivos: Con foco en el SISVAN-Web, evaluar la confiabilidad de datos antropométricos de niños menores de cinco años, describir la cobertura del sistema y conocer aspectos de la implantación. Metodología: Estudio transversal realizado en dos municipios de Paraíba. La muestra se constituyó por 18 equipos de salud de la familia y 324 niños. Las medidas antropométricas (peso y estatura) fueron tomadas (1) por el investigador que utilizando equipamiento patrón (P); (2) por el investigador usando equipamientos del servicio (PS) y; (3) en la rutina del servicio (S). Los gestores municipales responden a un cuestionario sobre el Sistema. Resultados: De los 319 niños observados, 10,28% estaban con exceso de peso/edad, 14,02% con exceso de peso y 7,16% con déficit de estatura. La cobertura fue de 2,8% en un municipio y 3,3% en el otro, siendo mayor para niños y menor en ancianos. Las concordancias de S con P fueron más débiles que las de PS, principalmente para estatura/edad (Kappa = 0,38) y IMC/edad (Kappa = 0,39). Las medidas obtenidas en S superestimaron el exceso de peso y el déficit de estatura. Los gestores refirieron que las informaciones del Sistema son restrictas al sector salud. Conclusiones: Se apuntan importantes deficiencias relacionadas con el SISVAN-Web que incluyen baja confiabilidad de las medidas antropométricas y de la cobertura. El Sistema no es utilizado en su potencial. -----------Palabras ResumoObjetivos: Com foco no SISVAN-Web, avaliar a confiabilidade de dados antropométricos de crianças menores de cinco anos, descrever a cobertura do Sistema e conhecer aspectos da implantação. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado em dois municípios da Paraíba. A amostra foi constituída p...

Nutritional deviations in children: comparative analysis of data from the food and nutrition surveillance system and those obtained by anthropometrists

“…5 That research, as the present study, detected a higher chance of a diagnosis of impaired linear growth and overweight due to problems in the equipment available in health services and in the techniques used by health professionals. 5 Similar deficiencies were recorded in the measurement of child body mass by community health agents. 20 Thus, training professionals in anthropometry is essential to ensure the quality necessary for anthropometric measurements and SISVAN Web information, as previously suggested.…”

“…The coverage of 63.3% for children under 5 years of age found in the present study is higher than that estimated for this population group in Brazil in 2012 (27.9%) 6 and for specific locations in the country, such as Rio Grande do Sul in 2010 (10.5%), 13 municipalities of the Regional Health Superintendency of Belo Horizonte from September to October 2012 (5.6%), 15 and 2 cities in Paraíba in 2010 (6.5 and 10.1%). 5 Therefore, the data obtained from SISVAN Web in the municipalities of this study seem to have good representativeness, based on the reported coverage.…”

“…5,7 The findings show the coexistence of these two nutritional problems and the nutritional transition process present among Brazilian children, 19 making the monitoring of nutritional status through SISVAN Web increasingly relevant. 5,7 The Brazilian literature addressing the reliability of SISVAN Web data is still incipient. The results found in the present study corroborate those reported by other researchers, who identified low agreement between nutritional classifications based on SISVAN Web information and on data obtained by trained anthropometrists.…”

“…3,4 In this context, the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional -SISVAN) was implemented as a basic VAN instrument to overcome weaknesses that limit its interface with health and nutrition policies, such as the high cost of population surveys and the low representativeness in nutrition monitoring campaigns. 5 SISVAN collects, processes, and continuously analyzes data on the food and nutritional status of primary care users. It seeks to contribute to the elaboration of interventions for risk factors associated with nutritional diseases and for social determinants of food and nutrition insecurity, encompassing both individual and collective care.…”

“…It seeks to contribute to the elaboration of interventions for risk factors associated with nutritional diseases and for social determinants of food and nutrition insecurity, encompassing both individual and collective care. 5,6 When compared to large population-based nutrition surveys, SISVAN data provide information faster, steadily, and at a lower cost. Such information is essential to the formulation and evaluation of food and nutrition interventions.…”