COVERAGE OF FOOD INTAKE ASSESSMENT IN THE BRAZILIAN FOOD AND NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM: 2008 AND 2013

Background and objectives: The Food and Nutrition Surveillance System continuously provide data on nutritional status and food intake of the population attended by the Primary Healthcare services for the formulation of actions, programs and policies. This study aims to describe and analyze the coverage of the assessment of the food intake of the users of the public health services registered on this System between 2008 and 2013. Methods: This is an ecological study. The population registered on the System is described according to federation units, macro-regions and/or life stages. The indicators used were: percentage of registration and use and coverage. The analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, linear regression models and Spearman's correlation. Results: More the 99% of municipalities presented at least one individual registered and the percentage of utilization varied from 19.39% in 2008 to 32.5% in 2013. The national coverage ranged from 0.13% to 0.41%, with a statistically significant trend of increase. The Center-West region had the highest regional coverage. All life stages presented statistically significant trends of increase in the coverage, especially children and pregnant women. The presence of nutritionists remained close to the statistical significance threshold. Conclusions: Despite the continuity of the collection of these indicators, the assessment of food consumption as a food and nutritional surveillance dimension was incipient and little-lined in Brazilian municipalities.