Community health agents from east zone of sao paulo city, a look at their nutritional status and food intake

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the social demographic profile, nutritional status, the presence of non-transmissible chronic diseases and food intake of the community health agents (ACS) who belong to five family health units in the east zone of Sao Paulo City. Methods: It was a descriptive, exploratory and quantitative study conducted with 88 subjects. Data about their social demographic situation, anthropometric parameters (weight, height plus waist circumference), information about the presence of non-transmissible chronic diseases and food intake were collected. Results: The sample was mainly female 83 (94.3%), with age varying from 20 to 55 years old. Most were from the southeastern region 72 (81.2%), having high school degree 71 (80.7%) with a family income between 2 and 5 minimum wages 62 (70.4%). The anthropometric evaluation revealed that 46 (52.3%) were eutrophic; 41 (46.6%) were overweight and 41 (46.6%) presented high risk or very high risk for cardiovascular diseases, although 77 (87.5%) did not refer any non-transmissible chronic disease. Regarding to food intake, we found a daily intake of rice, bean, bread and margarine or butter and lowintake of milk and diary products, vegetables and greens. Bovine and chicken meats were the most consumed. Coffee showed to be the most consumed beverage followed by artificial juices. Fried and sweets were consumed weekly by 34.9% and 53.4% of the ACS, respectively. Conclusion: The overweight and abdominal obesity were the ACS’s main health problems, being both directly related to their inadequate feeding practices; which were also related totheir social demographic characteristics. NCT00682604.