EXPERIENCING A PROPOSAL OF NUTRITIONAL ANTENATAL CARE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDED IN A FAMILY CLINIC IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism 2017-10, Vol.71 (Suppl. 2), p.574
• Main Authors: Líbera, Beatriz Della, Saunders, Cláudia, Barros, Denise, Santos, Marta, Araújo, Roberta, Baião, Mirian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Citizenship; Eating behavior; Education; Effects; Health promotion; Medical materials; Medical records; Mothers; Nutrition; Nutrition assessment; Pregnancy; Prenatal care; Womens health
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000480486

Background and objectives: Scientific evidence suggests the effectiveness of prenatal and nutritional care on the improvement of perinatal outcomes. The research aimed at analyzing the meanings attributed by mothers to prenatal nutritional care developed in a family clinic in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using Depth Hermeneutics as the methodological framework. Methods: Pregnant women received nutritional care offered in three collective appointments during the prenatal, characterized as "conversation circles" (CC), structured as follows: evaluation of medical records; nutritional assessment; development of educational activities related to health and nutrition; delivery of educational material. Nutritional assessment and medical records provided subsidies for the development of nutritional care developed at CC, in which we applied the nutritional and dietary counselling techniques, taking into account what the woman thinks, how she lives, her daily life, her social representations of "being pregnant" and her eating habits. Participant observations and 15 semi-structured interviews were performed with mothers who participated in the conversation circles (CC). Results: It is possible that pregnant women have realized the CC as a form of emotional support for their concerns, when they could display their behaviours, as well as get information and guidance concerning their new status as pregnant. CC were considered as an opportunity for sharing experiences among pregnant women and professionals, and a significant involvement of both parties in the care production process was observed. It was also recognized as a welcoming environment for enabling dialogue, allowing free expression of doubts, feelings, and expectations, strengthening the bond between the team and the pregnant woman and among pregnant women. Conclusions: The CC represented an important strategy for promoting health in the period of pregnancy, being an environment of humanization, citizenship and social inclusion.