Abstract

BORDON RIVEROS, Claudia; AGUILAR-RABITO, Ana; BERNAL, Susana Sánchez  and  ARBO, Laura Mendoza de. Characteristics and practices of enteral nutritional support in public health services of the Central Department - Paraguay. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2016, vol.14, n.3, pp.14-23. ISSN 1812-9528.  https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2016.014(03)14-023.

It is known the high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, where nutritional support is a key intervention tool. The objective was to describe the characteristics and practices of the enteral nutritional support in public health services of the Central Department-Paraguay. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in public health services of the Central Department in Paraguay that provide enteral nutritional support. A check list was used to describe the physical structure, infrastructure, equipment, organization and management, safety and quality assurance and procedures related to patient enteral nutrition. For the evaluation, a guide to good manufacturing practices, organization and operation of enteral formulas production establishments and enteral nutrition services was used as a reference. A score ≥70% was considered an expected compliance. Twenty six health services, which met inclusion criteria, were evaluated Twenty of them corresponded to the Ministry of Health. Eight of the total number had exclusive physical space for the preparation of the enteral formulas; 10 met the minimum requirements for physical structure (only 3 had physical separation of areas); 9 had infrastructure; 7 equipment; 4 safety and quality assurance; 8 organization and management and 11 procedures regarding the enteral nutrition. Only 6 met ≥70% score ("good" category).Weaknesses were observed in the enteral nutritional support of public health services, thereforeto establish corrective actions is urgent.

Keywords : enteral nutrition support; enteral formulas.

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