<b>Food consumption of pregnant women assisted in a public prenatal care service</b> - doi: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v11i3.13709

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study aiming to characterize food consumption of pregnant women, highlighting sources of iron and inhibitors of iron absorption foods. The study group encompassed women 19 to 49 years of age in the second trimester of their first pregnancy, who were assisted by a public prenatal care service in Cuiabá, the state of Mato Grosso capital, Brazil from May 2008 to May 2009. A food frequency questionnaire and a structured questionnaire were applied during in-person interviews to obtain data on socioeconomic and obstetric characteristics. Means and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for continuous variables and proportions (%) were estimated for categorical variables. Half of the women were less than 25 years of age, 60% had family income below a minimum wage per capita, and 42% were attending the first pre-natal consultation. Rice, beans, and bread were the most consumed foods. The mean frequency of consumption of foods that inhibit iron absorption was greater than those sources of iron; 65% of women reported increased appetite during pregnancy, and 53% showed aversion to a particular food. A poor intake of food sources of iron was observed.