Amongst wishes and possibilities: eating habits of pregnant women from an urban community in Southern Brazil

Abstract

This qualitative study had the aim to understand the eating habits of pregnant women living in an urban community in southern Brazil. The method adopted was the ethnonursing approach and data were collected by means of the qualifying guide Observation-Participation-Reflection, with four pregnant women. The ethnographic analysis was conducted along with data collection, in the search for topics to support the research questions. The results led to the unveiling of cultural meanings that pregnant women attribute to knowledge and to their eating habits, and the influence of family history and social relations in the community stand out in this aspect. The perception of body changes, from the perspective of pregnant women, is related to their eating habit choices. By appreciating the cultural dimensions of care, nurses who assist pregnant women get close to the family and the community, allowing for better compliance with prenatal care by means of educational activities consistent with the culture of these pregnant women.

Dietary patterns and significance of nutrition for women with low-risk pregnancy

“…Their perception of the relationship between greater attention to their food intake and proper development of the baby has also been reported in other studies [7,28].…”

“…The participant pregnant women recognized that the food they consume affect fetal growth; thus, they believe that their baby health and weight depend on their eating habits and that therefore making healthier food choices is essential [7]. However, although the significance of diet for these women was reported as important and healthy, it was not associated with any of the identified food patterns.…”

“…Moreover, with regard to food consumption during pregnancy, psychological and emotional aspects must be taken into account since they can also influence food choices [6,7]. However, few studies have investigated pregnant women's perception of pregnancy-related phenomena and their significance for those women [8].…”

Instrument for nursing consultation to pregnant women with diabetes mellitus

“…In view of this situation, health professionals play a relevant role in promoting the health of these women. It is necessary to consider the influence of popular knowledge and the family context to adopt healthy eating practices, which requires the establishment of strategies that allow the approximation between knowledge and the culture of pregnant women and their families (18) .…”

Estratégias Dietéticas Para a Gestação E Lactação

“…As práticas alimentares de gestantes são influenciadas por diversos fatores como a cultura, a crença e as tradições e, não raro, grande parte dessas mulheres necessita melhorar a alimentação (FRESCURA et al, 2014;OLIVEIRA et al, 2014). Os hábitos alimentares maternos promovem a saúde materno-infantil, pois a quantidade e a qualidade dos alimentos ingeridos nessa fase são determinantes para o bom estado nutricional do binômio.…”