Abstract
BackgroundWoman's nutritional status, before and during pregnancy, is a strong determinant of health outcomes in the mother and newborn. Gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention increases risk of overweight or obesity in the future and they depend on the pregestational nutritional status and on food consumption and eating behavior during pregnancy. Eating behavior during pregnancy may be the cause or consequence of mood changes during pregnancy, especially depression, which increases likelihood of postpartum depression. In Brazil, a study carried out in the immediate postpartum period found that one in three women experienced some type of violence during pregnancy. Violence and depression are strongly associated and both exposures during pregnancy are associated with increased maternal stress and subsequent harm to the infant. The main objectives of this study are: to identify food intake and eating behaviors patterns; to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and the experience of violence during and after pregnancy; and to estimate the association between these exposures and infant's health and development.Methods/DesignThis is a cohort study of 780 pregnant women receiving care in 18 primary care units in two cities in Southern Brazil. Pregnant women were first evaluated between the 16th and 36th week of pregnancy at a prenatal visit. Follow-up included immediate postpartum assessment and around the fifth month postpartum. Information was obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, living circumstances, food intake, eating behaviors, mental health and exposure to violence, and on infant's development and anthropometrics measurements.DiscussionThis project will bring relevant information for a better understanding of the relationship between exposures during pregnancy and how they might affect child development, which can be useful for a better planning of health actions aiming to enhance available resources in primary health care.
Highlights
Woman’s nutritional status, before and during pregnancy, is a strong determinant of health outcomes in the mother and newborn
Studies evaluating food intake of women during pregnancy are rare in Brazil
In contrast to eating patterns during pregnancy, characterized by a diet high in industrialized or fast preparation foods, consumption of more traditional foods in the Brazilian diet such as rice and beans increased in the postpartum period
Summary
Woman’s nutritional status, before and during pregnancy, is a strong determinant of health outcomes in the mother and newborn. A woman’s nutritional status, before and during pregnancy, is a strong determinant of health outcomes in the mother and newborn, and can affect the infant’s structure, physiology and metabolism [1,2]. Both maternal mental health and exposure to violence during pregnancy, which are closely related, may be risk factors for adverse neonatal [3] and infant’s health outcomes [4]. In contrast to eating patterns during pregnancy, characterized by a diet high in industrialized or fast preparation foods, consumption of more traditional foods in the Brazilian diet such as rice and beans increased in the postpartum period. Two Brazilian studies measured food intake in pregnant adolescent showing an important nutritional unbalance with excessive consumption of lipids, and adolescent who were in the lowest quartile of consumption did not reach the minimum recommended consumption of energy and nutrients [8,9]
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