Conditioning factors of students participation in the Brazilian School Meal Program

Abstract

Objective
The main objectives of this research are to verify the level of students’ participation in the National School Meal
Program in Brazil, and to identify the factors that influence their adherence to the program.
Methods
The research was based on a sample conformed by ten Brazilian municipalities, being localized, each two of
them in one of the five geographic regions. Data were collected in the schools and interviews were conducted
with 2.678 students. Students’ gender, age, feeding practices, nutritional status, and socioeconomic conditions
were taken into account by the adopted statistical model. The chi-square test and logit model were employed
as means to identify simultaneous influences of the factors involved.
Results
It was verified that 46% of the students consumed the school meals on a daily basis, whereas 17% didn’t
participate in the Program. Such factors as per capita family income, level of educational of parents, student’s
nutritional status and frequency of food consumption at the commercial establishment at school are contrariwise
associated to the daily Program participation. Nutritional status was the only factor inversely associated with
daily adherence to the Program in schools where no commercial food establishment was available.
Conclusion
It may well be concluded that the participation in the Brazilian National School Meal Program is low and,
although designed to be universal in scope, in practice, it appears to be restricted, benefiting mostly students
with nutritional status at risk, from families of lower income and educational levels. It is expected that the
present study will contribute to program reforms, adapting it to a wider range of characteristics, which should
be more appealing to the potential beneficiaries. Additionally, these data should afford the basis for future
researches, in order to identify the causes of program rejection by a substantial portion of the students.