Primeiras Refeições: Serious Game to Improve Infant Feeding Knowledge

Primeiras Refeições serves as a digital educational intervention designed to improve public understanding of infant nutrition, specifically focusing on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices aligned with the Brazilian Food Guide. By utilizing 2D resource management mechanics, the game aims to combat widespread misinformation regarding early childhood dietary habits. The primary objective of this initiative is to evaluate whether interactive serious games can function as effective pedagogical tools for disseminating complex public health guidelines to a broader audience.

The study, conducted among 119 university students, utilized a quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design to measure knowledge acquisition. Results indicate a statistically significant improvement in nutritional literacy, with average scores rising from 4.65 to 5.20. Notably, the most substantial learning gains were observed among participants from non-health-related academic fields, suggesting that the game successfully levels the playing field for individuals without prior specialized training. These findings underscore the potential for gamified platforms to bridge knowledge gaps in public health education.

Despite these positive outcomes, the research identifies several constraints regarding the current application of the tool. Short intervention periods limited the depth of knowledge transfer for more intricate nutritional topics, and the study lacked a control group to benchmark performance against traditional instructional methods. Furthermore, the absence of long-term retention data and the presence of potential selection bias due to participant attrition suggest that while the game is a promising educational asset, further longitudinal research is required to confirm its sustained efficacy and broader applicability in diverse populations.