Alfabetização em saúde de mães de crianças em idade pré-escolar atendidas pela pastoral da criança: contribuição para Promoção da Saúde infantil

Abstract

In view of the relevance of intersectoral actions dedicated to children's health care and the meaning of health literacy for health care behaviors, we aim in this study to analyze the contribution of the Rede Mãe Paranaense, PET-Odonto e Pastoral da Criança programs in the degree of health literacy and literacy in oral health of mothers of children aged 0 to 6 years. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out with 77 mothers assisted by the Pastoral da Criança of the Archdiocese of Maringá-PR, belonging to the parish of Nossa Senhora das Graças in the municipality of Sarandi-PR. Data regarding the determination of literacy in health and oral health were obtained through the application of the HLQ and BREALD-30 instruments, respectively. The women who participated in the study had a mean age of 29 years; married (57.14%); they work (48.05%); with a family income between 1 and 2 minimum wages (64.94%) and did not finish the hich school (58.45%). 54% of them participated in the Rede Mãe Paranaense Program and 43% of the PET-Saúde Program. The average level of health literacy was 23.88 points, corresponding to low health literacy. The average literacy level in oral health was 19.84 points, corresponding to high oral health literacy. 47.06% and 60% of the mothers attended exclusively by the PET-Saúde Program obtained degrees of literacy in health and literacy in oral health of the high type, respectively. 87% of the participants indicated the absence of posters on oral health in the basic health units they belong to; 88.31% of them indicated that the basic health units do not hold lectures on oral health; 67.53% of them indicated they had never received pamphlets on caries prevention in early childhood. When asked which were the means of preference to receive information on oral health 32.47% opted for the health professional; 32.47% for social networks and 25.97% for lectures at basic health units. It is concluded that the actions of empowerment on oral health for mothers of pre-school children have been carried out outside the basic health units, especially by intersectoral actions. The future design of health promotion actions based on empowerment should consider both health professionals and social networks in the delivery of information.