Educational activities in the prevention of gestacional anemia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of gestational anemia and verify whether educational activities interfere with the presence of gestational anemia. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, nested within a prospective cohort, from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy, carried out in the city of São Luís, Maranhão. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical questionnaires, as well as a questionnaire on food and nutritional insecurity, were applied. For data analysis, Poisson logistic regression was used. Results: The sample consisted of 309 pregnant women, where the prevalence of self-reported anemia was 16.82%. Most pregnant women were between 20 and 29 years old (50.49%). 49.51% belonged to socioeconomic classes D (from 1 to 3 minimum wages) and E (up to 1 minimum wage). Participation in educational activities during prenatal care (PR=0.30; CI=0.9-1.04; p=0.001), belonging to socioeconomic classes D/E (PR=0.82; CI=4.27 -5.45; p=0.001), is in the third trimester (PR=2.74; CI=0.78-0.60; p=0.002) and experiences food and nutritional insecurity (PR=2.49; CI =1.07-5.78; p=0.033) were issues associated with anemia during pregnancy. Conclusion: Educational activities during the gestational period are important to combat gestational anemia and promote health. The study showed a low prevalence of self-reported anemia, which may indicate that limiting factors, such as the pandemic period, made it difficult to access examination results or even undergo them.