Inequalities in the adequacy to consultation calendar for children under 5 years old in the Food and Nutritional Surveillance

The Ministry of Health recommends a minimum appointment schedule in childcare to monitor growth and development. The objective was to analyze the adequacy of the minimum appointment schedule for children under 5 years of age, with at least one anthropometric follow-up registered with the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN) between 2008 and 2020. The sample size comprised 23,453,620 children under the age of 5, and 103,773,311 records. The indicators analyzed were the average number of appointments and the adequacy of the last scheduled visit. In Brazil, the median number of appointments was three, which is lower than the recommended schedule. For children born after 2008, the adequacy of the last scheduled appointment was 11.8% with inequalities, lower in the North (5.7%) and higher in the South (22.5%). Comparing the federal units, Amapá and Roraima had the lowest frequencies, and Paraíba and Paraná the highest. The adequacy of the last scheduled appointment was higher among municipalities in the top fifth of GDP per capita. SISVAN reveals inequalities in access to health services; the highest level of adequacy with the minimum appointment schedule is in the South and Southeast regions.

Key words:
Growth; Food and nutrition surveillance; Primary Health Care; Health inequality; Access to health services