Grau de conhecimento de profissionais da saúde sobre a Norma Brasileira de Comercialização de Alimentos para Lactentes e Crianças de Primeira Infância, Bicos, Chupetas e Mamadeiras (NBCAL)

Abstract

Introduction: The “Brazilian regulation for the commercialization of foods for infants and young children, teats, pacifiers and bottles (NBCAL)” is a set of rules that regulate the commercial promotion and labeling of foods and products intended for newborns and infants. early childhood children. Its scope, monitoring and compliance must be known to health professionals. Objective: To assess the degree of knowledge of health professionals about NBCAL. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, carried out in the online format -via Google Forms, with health professionals from all over Brazil: nurses, nutritionists, doctors, nursing technicians, speech therapists, psychologists( as) and physical therapists, aged ≥20 years. The degree of knowledge about NBCAL and its relationship with sociodemographic issues, and experiences and perceptions about BF was evaluated. Bivariate analysis was performed using Person's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test, and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Eighty-six professionals participated in the study, most of them women (95.3%,n=82), of white race/color (58.1%,n=50), residing in the Midwest (50%,n= 43) and had some graduate degree (77.9%;n=67). Regarding the NBCAL, there was a variation from 14 to 50 correct answers, 19.8% (n=17) of the professionals were classified as having “little knowledge”, 54.7% (n=47) with “regular knowledge” and 25.6 % (n=22) with “good knowledge”. Positive associations were found between those who knew about NBCAL (p=0.024) and took some course related to AM (p=0.04) with “good knowledge” about NBCAL. Conclusion: Most health professionals have a regular knowledge of the content and functioning of the NBCAL. It is important that NBCAL be more widely disseminated and studied by health professionals.