Perceptions of Family Health Strategy doctors and nurses on the promotion of adequate and healthy eating practices in light of the Dietary Guidelines, Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, 2022: qualitative study.

Objective: To explore the perception of doctors and nurses from the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Santa Bárbara d'Oeste/State of São Paulo regarding the promotion of adequate and healthy eating practices, in light of the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population.

Methods: All doctors and nurses from the Family Health Teams were interviewed and the interviews were transcribed for content analysis. The thematic categories for analysis were defined a priori, having the Dietary Guidelines as a guide. The findings were discussed considering the Health Promotion framework.

Results: Doctors (n=11) and nurses (n=9) were mostly female, between 36 and 45 years old and with 1 to 5 years of experience in the Family Health Strategy. Perceptions about their knowledge about food and health, autonomy in food choices, nutritional reductionism, convenience and cost appeared as challenges and were shown to be misaligned with the Dietary Guidelines. However, their perceptions about the consumption of ultra-processed foods and commensality were more in line with the Guidelines.

Conclusion: Professionals perceive limitations in their knowledge about food and nutrition and the difficulties in carrying out actions to promote adequate and healthy eating, focusing on specific nutrients and restrictive prescriptions. The perception of the consumption of ultra-processed products as something harmful and the recognition of the influence of the context in which eating occurs on eating practices were observed. Despite the perception of obstacles to adequate and healthy eating as highlighted in the Dietary Guidelines, no strategies were suggested to overcome them.