Abordagens, estratégias e desafios da Educação Alimentar e Nutricional: percepção de nutricionistas da Atenção Primária à Saúde

Abstract

Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a central role in the organization of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), acting as the entry point and coordinator of care. In this scenario, nutritionists play an essential role in health promotion, especially through Food and Nutrition Education (FNE), a practice that still faces challenges in the routine of services. This study aimed to analyze the profile and perception of PHC nutritionists in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, regarding the practice of FNE, identifying activities developed, strategies used, and main challenges. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study with a quantitative-qualitative approach, conducted with nutritionists from Multiprofessional Teams (eMulti) and the Multiprofessional Residency in Family Health. Data collection took place between May and July 2025, using a semi-structured online questionnaire and a focus group. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and qualitative data using Thematic Content Analysis. Thirteen nutritionists participated, mostly women. Four analytical categories emerged: conception of nutrition education, forms of implementation, strategies and resources used, and challenges faced. The results indicate that, although professionals recognize nutrition education as a continuous and transversal process in care, structural limitations, scarcity of materials, and a predominance of traditional models persist, as well as difficulties related to the work logic of the multidisciplinary teams, such as the high number of supported teams and care overload, which compromise the continuity of actions. It is concluded that strengthening professional training, access to educational resources, reorganizing work processes, and encouraging participatory methodologies are fundamental to improving nutrition education in primary health care.