Importance of n-3 PUFA consumption during pregnancy: perception discrepancies between pregnant women and gynaecologists–obstetricians in Belgium

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2019-05, Vol.22 (7), p.1259-1268
• Main Authors: Hoge, Axelle, Bernardy, Florence, Donneau, Anne-Françoise, Dardenne, Nadia, Degée, Sylvie, Nisolle, Michelle, Guillaume, Michèle, Castronovo, Vincenzo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Belgium; Cardiovascular disease; Consumption; Cross-Sectional Studies; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Female; Fetuses; Food; Gynecology; Health care; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health risk assessment; Human health sciences; Humans; Knowledge; Maternal & child health; Nutrition Communication; Nutrition research; Obstetrics; Patients; Perception; Physicians - psychology; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women - psychology; Premature birth; Public health, health care sciences & services; Questionnaires; Research Paper; Santé publique, services médicaux & soins de santé; Sciences de la santé humaine; Sociodemographics; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Training; Womens health
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980019000089

n-3 PUFA during pregnancy have been subject to intense research interest, but also much controversy, creating a situation of confusion among patients and health-care providers. The present study was carried out to explore knowledge, attitude and practices regarding n-3 PUFA in two independent populations of pregnant women and gynaecologists-obstetricians in Belgium and to assess the relationship between the pregnant women's attributes and their n-3 PUFA status measured by the omega-3 index. Cross-sectional study. Knowledge, attitude and practices were collected by self-administered questionnaires while laboratory data were available for each pregnant woman. During the first antenatal hospital appointment (for the pregnant women) and by email (for the gynaecologists-obstetricians).ParticipantsWomen in early pregnancy (n 122) and gynaecologists-obstetricians (n 67). Marked discrepancies in perception were evidenced between the pregnant women and health-care providers. While 82 % of the women attached high importance to n-3 PUFA during pregnancy, only a third of the gynaecologists-obstetricians did. About 35 % of the women declared paying particular attention to their consumption of n-3 PUFA. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, these positive dietary practices were significantly associated with higher omega-3 index (P=0·04). Overall, 43·3 % of professionals did not provide any information about n-3 PUFA to their pregnant patients and 46·3 % did not take any preventive actions. Evidence-based guidelines, refreshment training and communication tools are needed to improve awareness and clinical practices among caregivers regarding n-3 PUFA to benefit both mothers and their children.