This study aimed to identify the parents’ perceptions about the undernourished child and to propose popular health education actions for the undernourished child assistance in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. It deals with an active research developed at the Nucleus of Integrated Medical Attention, part of the University of Fortaleza. Eight mothers and a father participated in the study, whose ages varied from 20 to 48 years old during the period of March to August, 2005. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews and educational workshops. After organizing of the results, the following category was identified: care conscience. The method calls attention for a new conscience in the care of the undernourished child in the community culture. We recommend interventions of popular health education for culturally distinct groups, considering the proposals, and stimulating in the construction of options for challenges of collective health, seeking changes in the constitution of practices committed to the disruption of social, economic, and political barriers.
Child nutrition disorders; Health education; Child care