Estudo de caso do processo de formulação da Política Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição no Brasil

Abstract

Objective: analyze the process of the formulation of the ‘National Policy of Diet and Nutrition in Brazil (NPDN)’ in the field of public actions turned to health protection and promotion. Methodology: multicentric qualitative case study, based on the period from 1998 to 2005; sixteen semi-structured interviews with key government and civil society actors were performed and different secondary information sources analyzed for reconstruction of process and mobility of the actors, and their motivation; for the analysis and construction of NPDN, a matrix with 5 categories was used – context, ideas, institutions, interest, and policy instruments. Results: NPDN was formulated in a participatory manner involving several government sectors and organized society; the publication of the NPDN in 1999 revealed its political-institutional guidelines: stimulus to intersectoral actions, in view of universal access to food; assurance of the safety and quality of food and services rendered; monitoring of the diet and nutrition of the country; promotion of healthy diet practices and life styles; prevention and conrol of nutrition disorders and diseases related to diet and nutrition; development promotion of lines of investigation; human resource developing and training. Conclusion: the process of formulation of the ‘National Policy of Diet and Nutrition’ is a solid learning way, supported by the search democratic perfecting, with an important citizen participation and discussion with civil society.