SABERES E PRÁTICAS MATERNAS RELACIONADAS À SUPLEMENTAÇÃO DO FERRO EM CRIANÇAS DE 6 A 18 MESES.

The National Iron Supplementation Program is designed to prevent iron deficiency anemia. The aim of this study was to describe the maternal awareness and practices related to iron supplementation in children aged 06 to 18 months. This is a qualitative research of a descriptive and exploratory nature. Interviews with 17 mothers were conducted using a semi-structured script. Three theme categories arose, bringing in their contents the knowledge about iron supplementation concepts produced by mothers and maternal practices regarding the implementation of iron supplementation and adherence to program. It was concluded that there are maternal difficulties, conceptual and practical, which result in issues for adherence to the Iron Supplementation Program for children 6-18 months and that such mothers attribute some of these difficulties to a lack of encouragement, monitoring and control of supplementation by health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]