Fatores associados à insegurança alimentar entre gestantes atendidas na rede pública de saúde de Lavras - MG

Abstract

Food insecurity is an important risk factor that may have direct health implications for the mother-child dyad. Therefore, identifying food-insecure households becomes relevant for the discussion and planning of comprehensive care policy directed to pregnant women. Thus, this dissertation aimed to investigate factors associated with food insecurity among pregnant women assisted by the public health network of Lavras - MG. Structured questionnaires with socioeconomic, obstetric and nutritional information were used to obtain anthropometric, food consumption and food insecurity data. Prevalence estimates and prevalence ratios were generated at 95% confidence intervals using Poisson regression analysis. Among the 173 pregnant women who participated in the study, 48% lived in households with some level of food insecurity. In the multivariate analysis, receipt of government financial benefit (Bolsa Família Program) [PR: 1.47; CI: 1.08 - 1.99], income of less than one and a half minimum wages [PR: 1.68; CI: 1.11-2.52], less than eight years of education [PR: 1.43; CI: 1.07-1.91], and women as the main provider of family income [PR: 1.39; IC: 1.02-1.87] were associated with food insecurity. Food intake was identified typical of the Brazilian culture. However, we also found lower report of meat, fruits and vegetables consumption by pregnant women living in food-insecure households. In conclusion, prevalence of food insecurity in pregnant women attending the public health system was high and is associated with structural social factors. The result of this study contributes to the development of intersectoral health and nutrition policies to promote food and nutrition security aimed at a vulnerable population such as pregnant women.