Reasons for children dropouts of the Comprehensive Nutritional Food Program in Asunción

Abstract

Introduction:

The National Institute of Food and Nutrition (INAN) implements the Comprehensive Nutritional Food Program (PANI), which consists of a set of preventive activities and nutritional recovery. PANI has had positive results in the years of implementation, but despite this, a constant problem has been the unjustified dropouts of the Program.

Objective:

describe the reasons for the desertion of children benefiting from the Comprehensive Nutritional Food Program, admitted in 2016, in the public health services of the city of Asunción.

Methods:

Retrospective descriptive cross-sectional observational study, non-probability sampling for convenience. PANI beneficiary children admitted in the year 2016 in Asuncion were included. Data recorded in the beneficiary cards in desertion and monthly dropouts reports from PANI were used. The percentage of dropouts of beneficiaries in Asuncion was calculated and the main factors affecting the dropouts of the Program were assessed. For the analysis of the data, the statistical package Stata 12 was used.

Results:

36.9% of the children who joined PANI in Asunción dropped out of the Program. The main reason for desertion was "He does not like the milk" (25.2%).

Conclusion:

The palatability of the nutritional complement is a preponderant factor for adherence to PANI.