Impact of COVID-19 in the participation of Filipino children 0-12 years old to nutrition-specific programs and their mothers' knowledge based on a Rapid Nutrition Assessment Survey

Background@#As the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19) continues to affect the capacity of the health system to deliver essential nutrition and health services, many countries, especially the low- and middle-income countries, including the Philippines, are beset with addressing undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among children. @*Objective@#The rapid nutrition assessment survey (RNAS) was conducted in selected areas in the Philippines to provide evidence of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's participation in the nutrition services and their mothers' knowledge level on nutrition. @*Methodology@#The RNAS was a cross-sectional survey conducted through phone interviews in nine (9) selected areas in the Philippines. A total of 7,092 children aged 0 to 12 years were included in the survey, of which 5,239 mothers and caregivers were interviewed regarding nutrition program participation of their children, and their knowledge on nutrition. @*Results@#A significant decline in children's participation in the Operation Timbang (OPT) Plus (83.0% vs. 51.1%), Vitamin A supplementation (65.4% vs. 54.9%), supplementary feeding (21.6% vs. 11.9%), and deworming (60.4% vs. 11.9%) was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic based on RNAS as compared to the pre-pandemic period using the 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS). The most commonly cited reasons for health service disruptions include: child did not visit health centers due to fear of infection, community health workers did not visit the child at home, and no available health workers in the facility. Stunting among children was more likely to be perceived by food insecure (19.7% vs 14.4%; p <0.001) and poor (22.1% vs 16.6%; p<0.000) mothers or caregivers than their counterpart mothers from food secure and rich households. @*Conclusion@#With prolonged limited access to health and nutrition services, children, particularly those from poor households, are at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and consequently, of not developing their full potential. Findings can guide efforts to ensure the continuity of essential health and nutrition services towards improving maternal knowledge and promotion of child health and nutrition during the COVID-19 outbreak and crisis recovery period.

Different Perceptions of Clinical Nutrition Services between Doctors and Dietitians in the Busan-Gyeongnam Area

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in perception of clinical nutrition service (CNS) between doctors and dietitians working in hospitals in Busan and the Gyeongnam area. Research was performed through questionnaires (from November to December 2011) at over 100 beds. 73.3% of dietitians were aware of the Nutrition Support Team (NST), while only 15.6% of doctors were aware of it. Due to heavy work and lack of medical staff, doctors didn't participate in NST, although most of them recognized the necessity of NST. 61.7% of dietitians screened and managed malnourished patients, whereas only 29.8% of doctors did. The main reason dietitians didn't treat malnourished patients was the absence of a treatment system in the hospital. Less than 50% of dietitians participated in the doctor's round to malnourished patients. As for why dietitians didn't participate in doctor's rounds, 71% of doctors chose understaffed dietitians and 38.1% of dietitians chose the doctors' unawareness of the importance of the dietitian in doctor's rounds. For the lower rate of nutrition counseling in provincial regions, compared to the capital region, 46.8% of doctors cited a lack of connection between doctors and clinical dietitians, while 43.3% of dietitians cited the lack of doctors' awareness on the importance of nutrition counseling. Although 87.3% of the doctors and 91.6% of the dietitians answered that CNS is important for treatment, the perception of onsite performance status on CNS was found to be low in both groups. 48.9% of doctors and 50.0% of dietitians regarded dietitians in the hospital as personnel in charge of food services, rather a member of the medical team. To improve the awareness of the importance of the CNS, and the image of clinical dietitians, 31.2% of doctors answered "to introduce a professional dietitian license for each disease" and 26.7% of dietitians answered "to change the system in the hospital". Most subjects found that a separation of clinical nutrition services from the food service part is needed. These results suggest that it is important to narrow the difference in perceptions of clinical nutrition services between doctors and dietitians for an organized clinical nutrition management of patients in hospitals in Busan and the Gyeongnam area.

Doctors' Perception and Needs on Clinical Nutrition Services in Hospitals

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception and needs of doctors on clinical nutrition services. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The doctors' perception and needs were assessed by questionnaires that had been specifically designed for the study. The research was conducted from February 14 to March 15, 2011 for 544 doctors at 42 large hospitals (with over 400 beds). Ninety-eight percent of doctors responded that clinical nutrition service was important. The mean scores of importance on clinical nutrition service were 4.45 for 'nutrition screening at admission', 4.50 for 'treatment of malnutrition', and 4.43 for 'nutrition education and counseling'. The mean scores of needs for clinical nutrition service were 4.42 for 'individual nutrition counseling & education' 4.39 for 'nutrition management for malnourished patients' and 'nutrition management for tube fed patients'. The medical specialists showed significantly (P<0.01) higher scores than the residents on the importance and needs for clinical nutrition services. Eighty-five percent of the doctors recognized the necessity of the specialized dietitians classified by diseases. The medical specialists (93.8%) showed significantly (P<0.01) higher recognition of this necessity than the residents (77.7%). The low residents' perceptions of the importance and needs for clinical nutrition services will necessitate clinical nutrition education plans. The departments of clinical nutrition in universities should improve the ability and skills of the clinical dietitians.

Ocorrência de Staphylococcus spp. e S. aureus em superfícies de preparo de alimentos em unidades de alimentação e nutrição / Occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. and S. aureus on surfaces used for preparing food in a food service

This study aimed to assess the occurrence and population kinetics of Staphylococcus spp. and S. aureus on surfaces used for preparing foods in ten food services in the city of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Brazil.Out of 160 samples collected from ten different food services, 70 (43.5%)were collected from surfaces used for preparing meat, 67 (41.87%) from surfaces used for preparing vegetables, and 14 (8.75%) from surfaces used for handling ready-to-eat food items. The counts of Staphylococcus spp. ranged from < 10¹ (15%) from > 10

Este trabajo ha evaluado la ocurrencia y la dinámica poblacional de Staphylococcus spp. y S. aureus en superficies de unidades de alimentación y nutrición de la ciudad de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. De 160 muestras recogidas en diez unidades distintas de alimentación y nutrición, 70 (43,75%) fueron de superficies de preparación de carnes;67 (41,87%) de superficies de preparación de vegetales; 14 (8,75%) de superficies de preparación de alimentos variados y 9 (5,63%) de alimentos procesados. El conteo de Staphylococcus spp osciló entre < 10¹ (15%) y > 10

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a ocorrência e dinâmica populacional de Staphylococcus spp. e S. aureus em superfícies de preparo de alimentos de unidades de alimentação e nutrição da Cidade de João Pessoa, Paraíba. Do total de 160 amostras coletadas de 10 diferentes unidades de alimentação e nutrição, 70 (43,75%) foram de superfícies de preparo de carnes, 67 (41,87%) de superfícies de preparo de vegetais, 14 (8,75%) de superfícies de preparo de alimentos em geral e 9 (5,63%) de superfícies de alimentos prontos. A contagem de Staphylococcus spp. variou entre < 10¹ (15%) e > 10

Cuidado nutricional hospitalar: percepção de nutricionistas para atendimento humanizado / Hospital nutritional care: perception of the nutritionist for humanized attendance

A pesquisa identificou as ações de cuidado alimentar e nutricional considerando as perspectivas da equipe de nutricionistas de um hospital de referência para a Política Nacional de Humanização (PNH). A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa, utilizou-se a técnica de grupos focais. A pesquisa envolveu treze nutricionistas, que foram divididas em dois grupos de acordo com o tempo de serviço, seguindo critérios de homogeneidade. As entrevistas foram desenvolvidas para análise da categoria: ser nutricionista para um atendimento humanizado, buscando-se conhecer as seguintes ações da prática destes profissionais: avaliação nutricional do paciente; planejamento, implementação e avaliação do cuidado nutricional e alimentar. A análise do conteúdo foi utilizada como técnica para sistematização das informações obtidas, agrupando-as em unidades de significado. O estudo revelou que há priorização do atendimento individualizado em função do número de leitos e de atividades burocráticas, falta de autonomia em relação à prescrição de dietas, dificuldades de interação com outros profissionais de saúde e entre as nutricionistas das áreas clínica e produção de refeições. Os resultados deste estudo poderão oferecer aos profissionais subsídios que fundamentem ações para a construção de um modelo de cuidado alimentar e nutricional humanizado em hospitais.

The research analyzed the actions of alimentary and nutritional care considering the perspectives of the nutritionists in a hospital reference for the National Politics of Humanization (PNH). From a qualitative approach, a focal group technique was used. The nutritionists were divided in two groups by working time, following homogeneity criteria. The interviews were developed for analysis of the category: Being a nutritionist for a humanized assistance, seeking to understand these professionals following actions: nutritional evaluation of the patient; planning, implementation and evaluation of the nutritional and alimentary care. The analysis of the content was used as a technique for the systematization of the collected information grouped in units of meaning. The study disclosed that there is prioritization of the individualized assistance in function of the number of beds and bureaucratic activities, lack of autonomy in relation to the prescription of diets, difficulties of interaction with other health professionals and between the nutritionists of the clinical and meal production areas. The results will provide the professional subsidies that substantiate actions for the construction of a model of humanized alimentary and nutritional care on hospitals.