Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate and compare dietary intake, type of assistance (Basic Health Units – UBS and Family Health Strategies – ESF) and participation in the “Bolsa Família” Program (PBF) among users of the Brazilian Unified Health System, (SUS). The sample was composed of individuals of both sexes between 18 and 78 years of age in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Socioeconomic, clinical and food consumption data were collected via a questionnaire adapted from the SISVAN and VIGITEL national surveys. The analyses were conducted using R3.1 software. Of the 187 patients, 91 were affiliated to the ESF, 96 to UBS and 40 were registered with the PBF. A healthy eating pattern was identified in only 41% of SUS users. It was observed that 55% did not consume raw salad (37% p = 0.04) and vegetable consumption was lower among the PBF users (67.5% versus 75.9%; p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in food consumption considering the kind of assistance (ESF or UBS). A healthy consumption pattern was not associated with demographic and socioeconomic variables. The majority of beneficiaries of the PBF did not admit to healthy eating patterns. Therefore, effective health promotion and prevention is needed for this population, mainly among the beneficiaries of the PBF.

Food consumption; Unified health system; Primary health care

Introduction

Since 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed food recommendations for populations should be focused on food rather than on nutrients¹1. Sichieri R, Coitinho DC, Monteiro JB, Coutinho WF. Recomendações de alimentação e nutrição saudável para a população brasileira. Arq. Bras. Endocrinol. Metabol. 2000; 44(3):227-232.. Since then, many studies have focused on the assessment of food intake of populations, observing food items consumed²2. Go VLW, Wong DA, Butrum R. Diet, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention: Where Are We Going from Here? J Nutr 2001; 131(11 Supl.):3121S-316S.

3. Heber D, Bowerman S. Applying Science to Changing Dietary Patterns. J Nutr 2001; 131(11 Supl.):3078S-3081S.

4. Sichieri R, Castro JFG, Moura AS. Fatores associados ao padrão de consumo alimentar da população brasileira urbana. Cad Saude Publica 2003; 19(Supl. 1):S47-S53.-⁵5. Simopoulos AP. The Mediterranean Diets: What Is So Special about the Diet of Greece? The Scientific Evidence. J Nutr 2001; 131(11 Supl.):3065S-3073S..

National family budget surveys (Pesquisas de Orçamentos Familiares – POF) in Brazil have demonstrated the Brazilian population’s food pattern is characterized by the habitual consumption of rice and beans, along with high consumption of high caloric value and low nutritional value food items⁶6. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Pesquisa de orçamento familiar 2008-2009: Avaliação nutricional da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. This pattern represents a nutritional consumption transition in which food shortage has been replaced by the excess of foods with little nutritional value. This habit contributes to the increase of overweight and obesity of the population, as well as the increase of Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs)⁷7. Schmidt MI, Duncan BB, Azevedo e Silva G, Menezes AM, Monteiro CA, Barreto SM, Chor D, Menezes PR. Chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil: burden and current challenges. Lancet 2011; 377(9781):1949-1961.,⁸8. Sartorelli DS, Franco LJ, Cardoso MA. Nutritional intervention and primary prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Cad Saude Publica 2006; 22(1):7-18..

In this context, the Bolsa Família Program (BFP – a financial support program for low-income families) has been implemented in Brazil to guarantee the human right to adequate food and to promote food and nutritional security. BFP is an income transfer program which contributes to the achievement of citizenship of the population that is most susceptible to hunger, poverty and extreme poverty⁹9. World Health Organization (WHO). The world health report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva: WHO; 2002.. The main objective of BFP is to combat hunger and promote food security, especially in families with children and pregnant women who are in situation of extreme poverty (R$ 77.00 – approximately US$ 20 [US$ 1.00 = R$ 3.87, on June 27th 2018] – monthly income per person).

However, an increase in income does not necessarily lead to a healthier diet. It has been demonstrated the higher purchasing power of poor families the higher the consumption of unhealthy food¹⁰10. Brasil. Lei Nº 10.836, de 9 de janeiro de 2004. Cria o Programa Bolsa Familia e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União 2004; 10 jan.. An evaluation of the Brazilian Institute of Social and Economic Analysis reached the same conclusion shown by POF data of families benefited by BFP. These data have identified a trend of increase in the consumption of animal proteins, milk and dairy products; increased consumption of biscuits, oils and fats, sugars and processed foods; and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the consumption of vegetables¹¹11. Instituto Brasileiro de Análises Sociais e Econômicas (IBASE). Repercussões do programa bolsa família na segurança alimentar e nutricional das famílias beneficiadas:documento síntese. 20. Rio de Janeiro: IBASE; 2008..

Insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) is among the top ten risk factors for diseases worldwide and an estimated 2.7 million lives could be saved annually worldwide if the consumption of FV was adequate¹²12. Lignani JB, Sichieri R, Burlandy L, Salles-Costa R. Changes in food consumption among the Programa Bolsa Família participant families in Brazil. Public Health Nutr 2011; 14(5):785-792., which reinforces the importance of evaluating food intake to implement corrective measures in food intake pattern of a population.

In the context of corrective measures and public policies, the Ministry of Health created the Programa Saúde da Família (Family Health Program), which has been implemented as Family Health Strategy (FHS), with the aim of strengthening primary health care and acting more actively on populations of greater vulnerability¹³13. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Saúde da Família: uma estratégia para a reorientação do modelo assistencial. Brasília: MS; 1997.. In addition, the strategy aims to replace the traditional model of health care in the country, the Basic Health Units (BHU), reorganizing this way the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - Unified Health System), prioritizing comprehensive health care, preventing, promoting and recovering the health of individuals in a complete and continuous way¹⁴14. Freitas MLA, Mandú ENT. Promoção da saúde na Estratégia Saúde da Família: análise de políticas de saúde brasileiras. Acta Paul. Enferm. 2010; 23(2):200-205.. In FHS, a multi professional team serves a defined population which belongs to a limited area. However, it is still unclear whether the type of assistance has an impact on some health conditions of the population, such as food intake pattern.

It is worth mentioning, even with the assistance of the Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF - Family Health Support Teams) which contribute to the expansion and improvement of health care and management¹⁵15. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Diretrizes do NASF. Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família. Brasília, Brasília: MS; 2009. Cadernos de Atenção Básica nº 27. within the FHS, dietitians are not legally required members of these supporting teams. However, when dietitians are present, prevention of poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle is reinforced with the addition of measures such as correction of nutritional deficiencies and prevention or treatment of NCDs¹⁵15. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Diretrizes do NASF. Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família. Brasília, Brasília: MS; 2009. Cadernos de Atenção Básica nº 27..

In view of the above, the objective of this study was to assess SUS users food intake according to the type of assistance received - conventional care model (BHU) and assistance model (FHS) - and according to the participation in Bolsa Família Program.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with individuals of both sexes who were 18 years of age or older and were SUS users from Porto Alegre-RS / Brazil. Two FHS units (Esperança Cordeiro and São Borja) were selected, which had a complete team. Two other traditional units, among which there were equivalent teams (BHU Santa Rosa and São Cristóvão) were also selected. A convenience sample was used, and the individuals were invited to participate in the waiting room of the health units, in different shifts (morning and afternoon). All interviews were conducted by the same researcher, from November 2012 to May 2013. All adult individuals who attended those health units during the period of data collection were considered eligible for the study.

A questionnaire was developed for data collection. It contained questions on socioeconomic aspects such as family income (minimum wage), marital status (single, married, others), race / self-referred skin color (black, brown, white indigenous and others), schooling (years of study) and employment status. In addition to dietary intake and participation in the Bolsa Família program, data on self-reported hypertension and diabetes were also collected¹⁶16. Schmidt MI, Duncan BB, Hoffmann JF, Moura L, Malta DC, Carvalho RMSV. Prevalência de diabetes e hipertensão no Brasil baseada em inquérito de morbidade auto-referida, Brasil, 2006. Rev Saude Publica 2009; 43(Supl. 2):74-82..

For food intake assessment a structured evaluation from the food frequency questionnaire of the Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN - Food and Nutrition Surveillance System)¹⁷17. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Protocolos do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional – SISVAN na assistência à saúde. Brasília: MS; 2008. was used, with the addition of food items regurlarly used to evaluate food consumption by the Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônicas (VIGITEL - Surveillance of Risk Factors and Protection for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Inquiry)¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014.. The evaluation of food consumption was performed in relation to the weekly food frequency and regular consumption as described below:

Weekly food frequency: it was analyzed according to SISVAN food consumption marker¹⁷17. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Protocolos do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional – SISVAN na assistência à saúde. Brasília: MS; 2008.. Healthy eating was characterized when the individual reported daily consumption of beans, fruits, vegetables and milk or skimmed or semi-skimmed yogurt and / or fish consumption at least once a week. . An inadequate diet was characterized by frequent consumption of fried foods and snacks such as chips, crisps, fried salads, salty crackers or packet snacks, sweet or sandwich biscuits, sweets, candy and chocolates, canned food and soft drinks.

Regular food consumption: The VIGITEL survey¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014. was used for this evaluation. The consumption on at least five days per week of fruit (including consumption of natural fruit juice), vegetables (raw salads, cooked vegetables and vegetables) and beans was considered healthy. The habit of consuming meat with excess fat, such as red meat with fat or chicken with skin, and the habit of consuming whole milk, soft drinks of any type and artificial juices on five or more days per week was considered unhealthy food consumption.

The variable “healthy eating pattern” was created for the global evaluation of food intake. It combined food item considered healthy (fruit, vegetables and beans) when consumed at the recommended frequency (five or more times a week), according to VIGITEL ¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014..

Relative and absolute frequencies were calculated, and univariate analysis was performed to observe differences between categories. Qui-square test or Fisher’s exact test were performed. Differences between means were tested with Student’s t-test. Statistical analyses were performed using software R 3.1. The level of significance adopted was p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval was adopted.

The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Municipal Health Department of Porto Alegre. All included subjects signed a free and informed consent form after being informed about the nature of the study, having endorsed all the ethical precepts of Resolution CNS 196/96.

Results

The study population consisted of 187 individuals, mostly women (80%). Ninety-one participants (49%) belonged to Family Health Strategy (FHS) and 96 (51%) to Basic Health Units (BHU). Forty participants (21.4%) benefited from the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP). Results of socioeconomic variables are presented in Table 1. FHS participants presented lower level of schooling (p = 0.02) and higher participation in BFP (p = 0.02). Individuals participating in BFP were predominantly of non-white ethnicity, differently from those not participating in the income transfer program (p = 0.04).

Regarding regular food intake analyses, as classified by VIGITEL (Table 2), 41% of participants presented healthy food consumption. Healthy food consumption was reported for vegetables (74%), beans (72%) and fruits (68%). Unhealthy food intake was reported for milk or full fat yogurt (54%), meat with fat (39%) and soda or artificial juices (29%).

When comparing the frequency of healthy food consumption among BFP beneficiaries, the majority (55%) did not consume raw salad compared to those who did not receive the benefit (36.6%; p = 0.04). Consumption of vegetables was lower among BFP beneficiaries than non-beneficiaries (67.5% and 75.9%, respectively, p = 0.02). The pattern of healthy consumption was not associated with demographic or socioeconomic variables (Table 3).

Discussion

This study found the majority of the population evaluated did not report a healthy eating pattern. In addition, Bolsa Família Program beneficiaries presented less healthy eating habits than non-beneficiaries. There was no association between food pattern and type of care received - conventional care model (BHU) or Estratégia de Saúde da Família (FHS - Family Health Strategy).

Users who belonged to FHS presented a lower level of schooling and higher frequency of BFP beneficiaries than those who belonged to the BHU, what is expected since FHS serves populations of greater social vulnerability. However, there was no difference in income level according to the type of assistance received. Considering that the majority of BFP beneficiaries belonged to FHS, the income transfer aid may be helping in this improvement, reducing social inequality. As income increases with BFP financial support, it is expected that there would be a greater purchase of food, including healthier foods. However, a review published in 2013 identified that BFP promotes an increase in access to food, but this is not necessarily accompanied by an increase in nutritional quality of food¹⁰10. Brasil. Lei Nº 10.836, de 9 de janeiro de 2004. Cria o Programa Bolsa Familia e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União 2004; 10 jan.,¹⁹19. Cotta RMM, Machado JC. Programa Bolsa Família e segurança alimentar e nutricional no Brasil: revisão crítica da literatura. Rev. Panam. Salud Pública 2013; 33(1):54-60., which is in agreement with the results found in our study.

When comparing food intake frequency data of those receiving BFP to data from SISVAN in 2013, both nationally and in Rio Grande do Sul²⁰20. Brasil. Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN). 2014. [acessado 2014 Jun 1]. Disponível em: http://dabsistemas.saude.gov.br/sistemas/sisvan/relatorios_publicos/relatorios.php
http://dabsistemas.saude.gov.br/sistemas... , or when comparing the same data to another study conducted in Porto Alegre²¹21. Rosa JAO. Estado nutricional e consumo de alimentos de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família em uma unidade básica de saúde de Porto Alegre-RS [dissertação]. Porto Alegre: UFRGS; 2011., a higher frequency of daily consumption of canned food and soft drinks was observed in BFP beneficiaries in our study population. Daily frequencies of fruit, salad and vegetable intake were low in the studied population. These data are in the same line with SISVAN (2013) data and findings from another study conducted in Porto Alegre²⁰20. Brasil. Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (SISVAN). 2014. [acessado 2014 Jun 1]. Disponível em: http://dabsistemas.saude.gov.br/sistemas/sisvan/relatorios_publicos/relatorios.php
http://dabsistemas.saude.gov.br/sistemas... ,²¹21. Rosa JAO. Estado nutricional e consumo de alimentos de beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família em uma unidade básica de saúde de Porto Alegre-RS [dissertação]. Porto Alegre: UFRGS; 2011.. This trend has continued since the last POF in 2008-2009, which characterized the Brazilian eating habits as low in consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The improvement in total income enables a greater purchase of food but possibly because of low cost and marketing of industrialized foods with high caloric value and low nutritional value, these are more consumed by BFP beneficiary families. It is well known that income transfer programs alone cannot solve the problem of poverty and food insecurity. Therefore, the importance of associating the financial benefit with educational actions and nutritional assessment is reinforced¹⁹19. Cotta RMM, Machado JC. Programa Bolsa Família e segurança alimentar e nutricional no Brasil: revisão crítica da literatura. Rev. Panam. Salud Pública 2013; 33(1):54-60..

Compared to data obtained in Porto Alegre by VIGITEL in 2013¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014., a higher intake of meat with excess fat or without the removal of visible fat was observed in our sample. In addition, there was a higher regular consumption of soft drinks among BFP beneficiaries compared to the population evaluated in Porto Alegre by VIGITEL. In this analysis, Porto Alegre was classified as the third Brazilian capital with highest soft drink consumption. The POFs carried out in the period from 1974 to 2003 showed there was a 300% increase in canned food intake and a 400% increase in soft drinks intake, in addition to verifying a 30% decrease in beans intake²²22. Levy-Costa RB, Sichieri R, Pontes NS, Monteiro CA. Disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil: distribuição e evolução (1974-2003). Rev Saude Publica 2005; 39(4):530-540.. In the last POF analysis, between 2008 and 2009, consumption below recommended levels of fruits, vegetables and beans was observed, in addition to the increase in soft drinks consumption⁶6. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Pesquisa de orçamento familiar 2008-2009: Avaliação nutricional da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010..

It should be noted that beans are considered a healthy food since they have high fiber content, in addition to their relatively low energy density. However, beans preparation should not include the addition of ingredients with a high fat content, which would increase the caloric value of the meal¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014..

Inadequate diet is one of the risk factors for hypertension and diabetes. In our study sample, the prevalence of hypertension was approximately 10% higher among BFP recipients when compared to data from same year in Porto Alegre collected by VIGITEL¹⁸18. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Vigitel Brasil 2013: vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília: MS; 2014.. Prevalence of self-reported diabetes was 100% higher than the one found by VIGITEL in Porto Alegre in 2013. Another fact shown by VIGITEL is that Porto Alegre is the second capital with more self-reported cases of diabetes, and the fourth in self-reported cases of systemic arterial hypertension.

Although our study comprised a convenience sample with a restricted number of volunteers benefiting from Bolsa Família Program, it was observed that the characteristics of the sampled population were very similar to the general population as reported by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE - Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics)⁶6. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Pesquisa de orçamento familiar 2008-2009: Avaliação nutricional da disponibilidade domiciliar de alimentos no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. Likewise, the large proportion of women in the sample reflects the greater search for assistance of women in health services, previously reported in the literature²³23. Pinheiro RS, Viacava F, Travassos C, Brito AS. Gênero, morbidade, acesso e utilização de serviços de saúde no Brasil. Cien Saude Colet 2002; 7(4):687-707.,²⁴24. Couto MT, Pinheiro TF, Valença O, Machin R, Silva GSN, Gomes R, Schraiber LB, Figueiredo WS. O homem na atenção primária à saúde: discutindo (in)visibilidade a partir da perspectiva de gênero. Interface (Botucatu) 2010; 14(33):257-270.. Another limitation is that the accumulation of other benefits was not investigated, which may have had an impact on family income, such as welfare benefits received by elderly people. In addition, a more detailed socioeconomic investigation was not performed, because of the impact it would have had on interview time. Finally, physiological issues such as oral diseases, use of prostheses, lack of teeth or other changes which might have had an impact on the choice of food (increasing the frequency of cooked foods and lowering the frequency of raw foods, for example) were not evaluated by the present study. However, in the case of receiving other benefits, or of physiological issues which could have altered the consistency of food, the results of this study become even more relevant when evidencing food choices.

Thus, data presented in this study indicate the need for preventive measures such as education and information on the acquisition of food for adequate nutrition, blood pressure control, diabetes and prevention of NCDs. In addition, public policies should emphasize actions which improve the availability of healthy food. It is a consensus that economic development needs to be linked to the health sector so that populations which benefit from an increase in income also have improved access to information and better health conditions²⁵25. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Política Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição. Brasília: MS; 2012. (Série B. Textos Básicos de Saúde nº 84).. Nevertheless, improvements in income must necessarily be linked to education and health promotion activities, aiming at a healthy diet.

References

Publication Dates

History