The limiting factors in the implementation of the Iron Health Program in a city located in the mid-wes Region of Minas Gerais

Abstract

Anemia caused by iron shortage is the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world. It has been considered a serious public health problem which affects mostly children under two years of age. Due to the high rates of anemia and the damages caused by it in children, the Ministry of Health established a national campaign for iron supply. The research aim was to identify issues that may prevent people from joining that campaign. This is a descriptive study developed at a Primary Health Centre in a Midwest town in the Minas Gerais State. Data was collected from interviews with 17 nurses, through well structured questionnaires followed by analysis of the content of their discourses. Four categories related to the difficulties in establishing the campaign for iron supply appeared in the nurse's discourse: mothers/caregivers usually had problems to go to the drugstore to collect the medication; the lack of professional training brought about disagreement on the prophylactic therapy, the mother/caregiver refusal to join in the campaign for underestimating the disease and/or other cultural aspects; moreover, the occurrence of side-effects was responsible for the disregard of the treatment. The anemia therapeutics with prophylactic doses of ferrous sulfate, although efficient in preventing iron deficiency, poses serious problems from the operational point of view. According to the results found in this research, it is worth suggesting a continuous training for the professionals, the development of awareness and commitment of mother/caregivers to the fight against anemia by actively joining the campaign