Food Insecurity during the Gestational Period and Factors Associated with Maternal and Child Health

Abstract

More studies are needed to understand the impact of gestational food insecurity on maternal and child health in order to contribute to the development of health policies that can guarantee the food and nutritional security of the binomial mother and child. AbstractFood security consists in granting everyone's right to regular and permanent access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences in order to lead to an active and healthy life. Studies that analyze aspects associated with food insecurity are important for the planning of programs and public policies in a preventive way and health promotion. The objective of this study is to review the factors associated with food insecurity during pregnancy. The prevalence of food insecurity in women during the gestational period ranged from 9.0% to 87.9%, with the lowest prevalence found in developed countries and the highest prevalence in underdeveloped or developing countries.Keywords: food security, food and nutrition security, pregnancy, women's health, prenatal careJournal Citation: Ramalho AA, Martins FA, Koifman RJ. Food insecurity during the gestational period and factors associated with maternal and child health.

Factors associated with food insecurity among pregnant women assisted by Universal Health Care in Lavras - Minas Gerais State

“…Despite being indirectly correlated, a low household income increases the likelihood of triggering food insecurity, since money available to buy food competes with other basic needs' expenses such as rent, energy, water, sewage, transportation, among other bills, which sets the scenario for an increased risk of giving birth and raise a child in a food-insecure environment, 18 which in turn interferes with fetal growth and development. 19 The 2018 national survey (PNAD) disclosed that the average national monthly income was R$ 2,222 and in Minas Gerais it was R$ 1,950. The present study showed that the average household monthly income to which the pregnant woman lived with was R$ 1,631.…”

Insegurança alimentar e nutricional de famílias usuárias da Estratégia Saúde da Família no interior da Paraíba

“…Em classes socioeconômicas inferiores, a maior probabilidade de insegurança alimentar moderada/grave, entre mães que não receberam suplementação durante a gravidez, segue a tendência mostrada em estudo prévio no qual os cuidados inadequados na gestação, incluído a suplementação com micronutrientes, representou maiores chances de IAN em graus mais severos 27 . Os efeitos da IAN podem ser vistos principalmente entre os grupos mais vulneráveis, nos quais a falta de alimentos saudáveis e de qualidade pode estar relacionada ao acesso precário a renda, bens e serviços 36 . A consistência desses achados também encontra explicações segundo uma revisão da literatura que destaca o nível socioeconômico como o principal determinante da suplementação com ácido fólico na gestação 37 , sendo que a IAN medida por meio da EBIA é considerada um importante indicador de iniquidade social 38 .…”

Effect of Food Insecurity and Other Possible Factors Associated with Low Birth Weight Among Mothers Who Gave Birth to Live Newborns in West Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Unmatched Case–Control Study

“…This may be because food insecurity among women during pregnancy ranges up to 90% in underdeveloped and developing countries. 19 Since there is an increased demand for nutrients during pregnancy, 20 pregnant women must have adequate quality and quantity of food. Foodinsecure mothers have limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate food, which prevents them from meeting the guidelines for healthy eating during pregnancy and leads to their infants having LBW.…”