Nutritional profile of women assisted by the program of Family Health Strategy in Maranhão State, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Inadequate diet, whether due to excess or insufficient calories and nutrients, results in health risk situations as well as inadequate nutritional profile. The presence of nutritional deficiencies is more visible in women and, therefore, is more likely to reflect the risks of such deficiencies. Knowing the profile of the nutritional status of the female population of Maranhão, Brazil, which provide evidence of the nutritional status of their families, may support the creation of specific actions to combat eating problems and, consequently, improve their health.
 Objective: To evaluate the nutritional profile and its relationship with social determinants in a population of women attended by the program of Family Health Strategy in Maranhão.
 Methods: Cross-sectional study with 989 women aged 15 to 49 years, carried out during July to September 2010. Socioeconomic data were collected through a questionnaire, in addition it was applied of the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale to know the level of food insecurity. Body mass index (BMI) and hip and waist circumference measurements were obtained to verify the nutritional profile. The variables were analyzed for frequencies, distribution and central tendency. Bivariate analysis was performed as to the associations between socioeconomic variables and BMI. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used between the food safety score and the BMI, adopting a significance level of 5%. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed.
 Results: It was found a relationship between the BMI classification with some social determinants such as age, family income and food insecurity. There is a high prevalence of women at nutritional risk, especially for overweight and obesity, as well as the presence of thinness and short stature.
 Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors have a significant association with women's Body Mass Index indicating that there is an important relationship between age-matched maternal Body Mass Index and food insecurity.

Integrated actions and strengthening of Public Health System in Brazil in a time of pandemic

“…Their articles in issue one of volume 30 highlight several scientific contributions, such as Pimentel et al 3 on the spread of COVID-19 outside China and its exponential growth in Europe and its spread to the American continent; Vieira et al 4 , on the nutritional profile of women served by the Family Health Strategy Maranhão, Brazil, with the conclusion that socioeconomic factors have a significant association with the Body Mass Index of women, being an important contribution to the full understanding of the role of the strategy of Family Health.…”

“…In regards to perinatal health, there is an important contribution on the validation of a food consumption frequency questionnaire for pregnant women attended in basic health units, with the suggestion of a potential instrument to be used in the evaluation of food consumption in pregnant women 13 . About overweight/obesity and subjective food insecurity, Viera et al 4 highlight the need for the State to provide effective strategies for the population to become aware that an adequate nutritional status is the best prevention against occurrences resulting from chronic diseases common among obese people, being the competence of the public power, to defend and protect the population in their human rights adequate food and health, meeting the demand for a democratic, fair and egalitarian society.…”