Domestic Cooking Skills in Primary Health Care in the municipality of São Paulo: Challenges and needs from the perspective of health care professionals

Abstract

Objective The objective of this study was to understand the main needs, difficulties and opportunities for implementation of Domestic Cooking Skills in Primary Health Care, in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population, from the perspective of healthcare personnel. Methods This qualitative research was conducted between June 2020 and November 2021 involving two focus groups. The first group consisted ff emale Primary Health Care professionals with a complete higher education (n=6) while the second group comprised individuals with high school and technical education (n=5) working in the Municipality of São Paulo. The mean age was 42 years old (SD=8), and with 11 years old (SD=10) of experience in Primary Health Care. We developed a semi-structured script of triggering questions and conducted discussions using the funnel technique. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic Analysis was employed for data analysis and our findings were compiled in a conceptual model. Results This study revealed that the difficulties in implementing Domestic Cooking Skills in Primary Health Care are related to the Culinary Transition, combined with reductionist health practices, and identified the need for professional qualification. An opportunity identified is the centralization of Domestic Cooking Skills activities in Community Health Workers and prioritization of the agenda of Domestic Cooking Skills actions, in a scenario where professionals report that, for managers, the quantity of care provided seems to be more important than quality. These aspects provided the basis for building the conceptual model. Conclusion There is a need for raising awareness and providing professional training regarding Domestic Cooking Skills, especially among Community Health Workers. In addition, it is mportante that managers prioritize this agenda over targets and figures that do not reflect the quality and comprehensiveness of Primary Health Care. A conceptual model is presented, encompassing all professional categories, with a focus on Community Health Workers as key professionals for implementing Domestic Cooking Skills actions in Primary Health Care.