Contributions to training in Nutrition in Public Health: a qualitative study in Sergipe

um estudo qualitativo em Sergipe

Abstract

The training of nutritionists has been the subject of studies, aiming to understand how the teaching process has met the needs of the population, given that the training process of health professionals has been strongly influenced by the training model centered on the sick body. This study aimed to analyze training in Nutrition at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the state of Sergipe from the perspective of performance in Public Health, using a qualitative method. Coordinators, teachers and internship preceptors from the six active institutions offering training in Nutrition in the state of Sergipe were invited. The Google Forms platform was used with an instrument specifically designed for the purposes of this study. To analyze the sample characterization data, SPSS version 26 was used and content analysis was used for the subjective information arising from the open questions. Nine actors from five HEIs participated in the research. The analysis indicated that the low workload available for disciplines involving Public Health is a challenge for training, as is the lack of institutional support for the development of extramural activities. It was observed that students from private HEIs have earlier contact with Public Health disciplines. The participants' perception that training in nutrition is still based on the biological model went from “important” to “reductionist”, proving the complexity of this understanding and the demand for actions that can better clarify this issue, otherwise we will train nutritionists with a vision reductionist and uncritical reflection in the face of contemporary challenges.