Health and nutrition in public and private schools in the city of Recife

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the implementation of initiatives and environments promoting healthy feeding as well as the practice of physical activity in public and private schools in Recife. Methods: the schools selected in the City of Recife (n=39) are part of the sample in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). The degree of implementation was estimated by means of interviews with the school manager emphasizing the following components: community participation, presence of healthy environments, partnership with the health segment, monitoring of nutritional status and nutrition policies. The variables selected were assigned points whose sum rated them as satisfactory implementation, poor implementation and critical implementation. Results: the promotion of healthy eating as well as the practice of physical activity was satisfactorily implemented in 13.8% of public schools. However, no private schools obtained such rating. Public schools, when compared to private schools, showed themselves to be more structured, concerning the policies and environments promoting healthy eating and school community participation, however, they showed greater fragility regarding the promotion of physical activity practice and nutritional status monitoring. A few schools had satisfactory implementation in the partnership with the health segment. Conclusions: public and private schools have presented barriers which compromise the full implementation of initiatives and environments promoting healthy eating and physical activity practice.