Avaliação nutricional de gestantes sob acompanhamento em serviços de pré natal distintos: a região metropolitana e uma cidade do interior.

Abstract

Pregnancy is a period that requires increased nutritional needs, an adequate nutrition is essential to the health of mother and baby. Pregnants should consume foods in variety and specific amount considering the recommendations of the food guides and cultural food practices, to achieve the energy and nutrient requirements, and the weight gain recommendations. Purpose: To verify differences in some nutritional aspects of pregnant women assisted in prenatal care service in a contry town and in a metropolitan area. Methods: Pregnant women were evaluated in prenatal care in the city of Belo Horizonte (BH), metropolitan area, and Paula Cândido (PC), a country town. It was applied a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) containing socioeconomic information and on their eating habits. Moreover, were mensured height and weight at the time of attendance and questioned the pre-pregnancy weight, for subsequent calculation of BMI. Data analysis was divided by region and pregnancy trimester using the SPSS software version 15.0, the t-test to compare averages and chi-square test of independence with 5% significance. Results: 240 pregnant women were included, 90 from the country town and 150 from the metropolitan area. Of these, most are married (BH = 56.67%; PC = 46.67%), do not work outside the home (BH = 54.67%; PC = 84.44%). Predominantly feed 3-4 times/day on the 1st and 2nd quarters (BH = 54% and 46%; PC = 66.7% and 63.33%, respectively) and make 5-6 meals/day in Q3 in BH (44%). There was significant weight gain only in the 1st pregnancy quarter (BH: 58%; PC: 53.33%). Weight gain versus eating habits was significant for the variables "lunch or dinner away from home" in the 1st quarter BH (p = 0.006); "How many times consume milk" in the 1st quarter PC (p = 0.03); "How many times consume junk food" in the 3rd quarter BH (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Pregnant woman in both regions feed properly, despite the prevalence of pre gestational overweight in BH and low level of education and income, especially in the country town, an indicator that may be unfavorable to the nutrition of pregnant women in this period. Association studies between eating habits and newborn health will contribute to more information about nutrition during pregnancy.