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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/58504
HARASSMENT OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BY THE INFANT FOOD INDUSTRY AT SCIENTIFIC EVENTS
Food Publicity
Scientific and Educational Events
Health Personnel
Legislation
Food
Author
Affilliation
Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde. Laboratório de Informação em Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Departamento de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde. Laboratório de Informação em Saúde. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the receipt of sponsorships from breast-milk substitute companies by health professionals in scientific events. METHODS: Multicenter study (Multi-NBCAL) performed from November 2018 to November
2019 in six cities in different Brazilian regions. In 26 public and private hospitals, pediatricians, nutritionists, speech therapists, and a hospital manager were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive analyses were carried out regarding the health professionals’ knowledge about the Norma Brasileira de Comercialização de Alimentos para Lactentes e Crianças de Primeira Infância, Bicos, Chupetas e Mamadeiras (NBCAL – Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddlers Food and Childcare-related Products), companies sponsoring scientific events, and material or financial sponsorships received, according to profession.
RESULTS: We interviewed 217 health professionals, mainly pediatricians (48.8%). Slightly more than half of the professionals (54.4%) knew NBCAL, most from Baby-friendly Hospitals. Most health professionals (85.7%) attended scientific events in the last two years, more than half of them (54.3%) sponsored by breast-milk substitute companies, especially Nestlé (85.1%) and Danone (65.3%). These professionals received sponsorships in the events, such as office
supplies (49.5%), meals or invitations to parties (29.9%), promotional gifts (21.6%), payment of the conference registration fee (6.2%) or ticket to the conference (2.1%).
CONCLUSION: The infant food industries violate NBCAL by harassing health professionals in scientific conferences, offering diverse material and financial sponsorships.
Keywords
Breast-Milk SubstitutesFood Publicity
Scientific and Educational Events
Health Personnel
Legislation
Food
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