V Promoting healthy complementary feeding in the Western Brazilian amazon

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 107; no. Suppl 1; p. A6
• Main Authors: de Morais Sato, P, do Manco Machado, R, Ricci, JMS, Giacomini, I, de Araújo Damasceno, AA, Hatzlhoffer Lourenço, B, Cardoso, MA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.03.2022; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Breast feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Child Health; Children; Childrens health; Conflicts of interest; Dentistry; Dietary supplements; Educational materials; Electronic Learning; Food processing; Health care; Health promotion; Instructional Materials; IV. Rescuing child development: from science to interventions; Medical personnel; Nutrition; Nutrition Instruction; Pediatrics; Physical growth; Pregnancy; Public Health; Summative Evaluation; Training; Workshops; Brazil; Amazon Basin
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-ichgc.9

The objective of this study was to promote healthy and adequate complementary feeding practices in Acre, a state located in the Western Brazilian Amazon, through qualification of primary healthcare (PHC) professionals. Specific aims were to: (1) develop educational materials based on the Brazilian Food Guidelines for Young Children; and (2) conduct and evaluate an online asynchronous workshop among professionals.Educational materials were developed by a multiprofessional team. Participants were invited through messages from Secretariats of Health in the state of Acre. During the workshop, communication with the participants took place through email, Instagram and WhatsApp. Activities were developed to track the participants’ accomplishments throughout the course. Summative assessment was carried out through a final questionnaire and evaluation was performed based on reach parameters previously defined by the workshop coordinators, based on indicators for the fulfillment of the project’s aims (table 1).Abstract VI Table 1Expected reach: parameters defined by workshop coordinators in advanceLow reachMedium reachHigh reachNumber of meetings with PHC coordinators<2≥2 and <4≥4Number of PHC facilities participating<5≥5 and <10≥10Number of healthcare professionals and community health agents registering in the workshop<20≥20 and <40≥40Number of healthcare professionals and community health agents completing the workshop<20≥20 and <40≥40The workshop materials consisted of 55 videos divided in eight themes: (1) Complementary feeding: scenario and challenges, (2) Reflections on healthcare and nutrition education, (3) Food processing and conflicts of interest, (4) Importance and promotion of breastfeeding, (5) Foundations for the complementary feeding, (6) Evolution of complementary feeding: from 6 months to 2 years, (7) Child health: overcoming challenges, (8) Family meals. Contents were presented as recorded classes (interactive or not), animations (interactive or not), interviews, podcasts, movie session with synchronous discussion, and cooking videos. A total of 30 hours of learning materials were available on an online learning platform.170 participants (67% from Acre), with a mean age of 33 years (SD 8) participated in the workshops. Most were female (90%), and nurses (45%). Other professionals included dietitians (28%), dentists (5%), and social workers (3%). Main barriers to promote adequate complementary feeding were lack of training in the subject (reported by 54% of participants) and lack of supporting materials (reported by 43%).The Project had a high reach of PHC facilities and participants registered in the workshop, and medium reach concerning meetings with PHC coordinators and participants completing the workshop. Participants preferred contents in the format of animations and video lessons up to ten minutes long. Contents considered the most important were anthropometric evaluation of children, food processing and classification), prenatal diets and breastfeeding challenges. The Project’s workshops thus addressed the main challenge to promoting complementary feeding in the Western Brazilian Amazon: the lack of training. Maintaining high levels of synchronous interaction with participants remains a challenge of future workshops.