Promotion of Adequate and Healthy Eating within the scope of the School Health Program: implementation and contribution of the Healthy Growth Program

Abstract

The study aims to show the evolution of the percentage of schools adhering to the School Health Program (PSE) that carried out a collective activity on the Promotion of Adequate and Healthy Eating (PAAS) over the last five years and verify if there is a difference in this indicator according to adhesion to the Healthy Growth Program (PCS). Ecological study, developed with data registered in the Health Information System for Primary Care (SISAB). The performance of collective actions on PAAS from 2017 to 2019 increased. In 2020, there was a reduction in the actions carried out; and in 2021 there was an increase in actions carried out compared to 2020. The municipalities that received additional funds from the PCS had the highest percentages of schools carrying out collective activities on PAAS. The implementation of PAAS actions did not occur homogeneously according to the Brazilian macro-regions. It is concluded that there has been a strengthening of PAAS actions within the scope of the PSE, with a significant reduction of this action in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting additional resources from the PCS favored the development of actions on PAAS, which reinforces the importance of regular financial transfers.