Workers' Food Program: local managers' social representations

OBJECTIVE: To assess local managers' knowledge and social representations of a healthy diet and health promotion in the Workers' Food Program. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with companies registered in the Workers' Food Program in the city of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to local managers involved with workers' food. Data were tabulated through the Discourse of the Collective Subject using three methodological approaches: central idea, key expressions and discourse of the collective subject. RESULTS: Discourses of managers from 70 companies were evaluated, indicating that 60% of central ideas expressed unfamiliarity on the Workers'Food Program and its objectives, or had as representation the benefits for their companies. However, it was observed that the most common central idea was: "It is a program to provide a balanced diet to workers", representing a discourse emphasizing a healthy diet and health promotion, which is close to Program's objectives. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of discourses did not emphasize a healthy diet and health promotion. Thus for accomplishing the Program's objectives, local managers need to be familiar with Workers' Food Program and aware of its objective of health promotion.