Nutritional guidance during prenatal care in public health services in Ribeirão Preto: discourse and care practice

Abstract

This study aimed to verify if pregnant women attended in prenatal care services at Basic Health Units in Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil, received nutritional guidance and if this guidance was pertinent to their nutritional status. Ninety-one pregnant women participated. The pregnant women were classified according to their nutritional condition, using a weight, height and pregnancy stage table established by the Brazilian Health Ministry's technical prenatal care manual. We found pregnant women with weight under (13.19%) and exceeding normal levels (37.36%). Independently of their nutritional condition, most of them (60.43%) declared they did not receive nutrition guidance. The mean number of prenatal visits did not influence the nutritional status. The results reveal deficiencies in the contents and quality of nutritional care. This suggests the need for care changes so as to turn discourse into practice.