Abstract:
Objective: To assess the influence of the Bolsa Família Program on the nutritional
status of children aged 0 to 6 years and the challenges to its effectiveness in
improving nutritional status in the state of Minas Gerais. Methodology: This study is
descriptive, quantitative, and ecological, based on secondary data from the Food and
Nutrition Surveillance System (SISVAN). Information regarding the nutritional status
of children under six years old living in Minas Gerais from 2015 to 2025 was included.
The indicators used were: Weight/Height, Weight/Age, Height/Age, and BMI/Age,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO) growth curves. Incomplete
records were excluded. Results and Discussion: The results indicate a significant
improvement regarding child undernutrition and an increase in the number of
eutrophic children, demonstrating the importance of monitoring the beneficiaries of
this public policy. Conclusion: It is concluded that Bolsa Família contributed to
improvements in children's nutritional indicators, although challenges such as the risk
of overweight and food quality remain, requiring complementary actions in health and
nutrition education.
