[Eating behaviors and the social status of families of malnourished children]. / Práticas alimentares e situação social de famílias de crianças desnutridas.

The objective of this study was to learn about the everyday eating behaviors and the social status of the families of malnourished children. This qualitative study involved eight families. Data were collected by participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed the following themes: family eating; the family's social status and eating during childhood; and the presence of social programs and equipment. The family did not gather for meals and their food consisted basically of different sources of carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables were very limited and considered to be food choices that did not provide sustenance. Differences were observed between the family's' and the children's' eating habits. Social programs and equipment provided important support, especially regarding the positive attachment with institutions and professionals and following the children's health. The family's social status does not allow the offering of appropriate quantities and quality of food throughout the month, thus compromising the nutritional status of the children, who are deprived of appropriate foods of adequate nutritional value.

Práticas alimentares e situação social de famílias de crianças desnutridas / Eating behaviors and the social status of families of malnourished children / Costumbres alimentarias y situación social de familias de niños desnutridos

Objetivou-se apreender o cotidiano das práticas alimentares e a situação social das famílias de crianças desnutridas. Estudo de natureza qualitativa envolvendo oito famílias. Os dados foram colhidos por observação participante e entrevistas semiestruturadas. A partir de análise temática, emergiram os temas: alimentação da família; situação social da família e alimentação na infância; e presença de programas e equipamentos sociais. A família não se reunia para as refeições e tinha alimentação baseada em alimentos fonte de carboidrato. Frutas e hortaliças eram escassas e consideradas alimentos que não sustentam. Existia diferença entre alimentação da família e das crianças. Programas e equipamentos sociais constituíam suporte social importante, com destaque para vínculo positivo com instituições e profissionais e acompanhamento da saúde da criança. A situação social não possibilita dispor da quantidade e qualidade adequada dos alimentos durante todo o mês, o que compromete o estado nutricional das crianças, que são privadas de uma alimentação adequada.

The objective of this study was to learn about the everyday eating behaviors and the social status of the families of malnourished children. This qualitative study involved eight families. Data were collected by participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed the following themes: family eating; the family's social status and eating during childhood; and the presence of social programs and equipment. The family did not gather for meals and their food consisted basically of different sources of carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables were very limited and considered to be food choices that did not provide sustenance. Differences were observed between the family's' and the children's' eating habits. Social programs and equipment provided important support, especially regarding the positive attachment with institutions and professionals and following the children's health. The family's social status does not allow the offering of appropriate quantities and quality of food throughout the month, thus compromising the nutritional status of the children, who are deprived of appropriate foods of adequate nutritional value.

Se objetivó aprender las costumbres alimentarias cotidianas y situación social de familias de niños desnutridos. Estudio cualitativo involucrando ocho familias. Datos recogidos por observación participativa y entrevistas semiestructuradas. Del análisis temático, surgieron los temas: alimentación de la familia; situación social de la familia y alimentación en la infancia y presencia de programas y equipamientos sociales. La familia no se reunía para las comidas y tenía alimentación basada en carbohidratos. Escaseaban frutas y hortalizas, consideradas alimentos que no ofrecían sustento. Existía diferencia entre la alimentación de adultos y niños. Programas y equipamientos sociales constituían un importante soporte social, destacándose el vínculo positivo con instituciones y profesionales, y seguimiento de salud del niño. La situación social no posibilita disponer de cantidad y calidad razonable de alimentos durante todo el mes, lo que compromete el estado nutricional de los niños, privados de una alimentación adecuada.