Association between dairy products consumption and the prevalences of combined prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Brazilian adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

The association between dairy products consumption in adults and the likelihood of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been described, but more information on the adolescent population is needed. This nationally representative, cross-sectional school-based study aimed to describe the consumption of dairy products and their subtypes and to evaluate their association with prediabetes and T2DM in adolescents. The Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA) includes adolescents aged 12-17 years. Dairy products consumption was evaluated by 24-h food recall. Associations with fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and insulin resistance, as measured by homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were evaluated by multivariate linear regression. Poisson regression was also used to assess the association between dairy products consumption and the combined prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM. Models were adjusted for sociodemographic, nutritional, behavioural and anthropometrics. The final sample analysed consisted of 35 614 adolescents. Total intake of dairy products was inversely associated with fasting blood glucose levels after adjusting for all covariates (ß = -0·452, 95 % CI -0·899, -0·005). The associations were stronger for overweight and obese adolescents. Findings were similar for full-fat dairy products and yogurt. Higher consumption of low-fat dairy products and cheese were associated with a 46 % (prevalence ratio, PR 1·46, 95 % CI 1·18, 1·80) and 33 % (PR 1·33, 95 % CI 1·14, 1·57) higher combined prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM, respectively. The total consumption of dairy products and full-fat dairy products was associated with a lower combined prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM, while the consumption of cheese and low-fat dairy products was associated with higher combined prevalence of prediabetes and T2DM in Brazilian adolescents.

Effect of a healthy eating intervention in the first months of life on ultraprocessed food consumption at the age of 4-7 years: a randomised clinical trial with adolescent mothers and their infants.

This randomised clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of a pro-breast-feeding (BF) and healthy complementary feeding intervention performed during infants' first months of life on ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption at 4-7 years. We enrolled 323 teenage mothers and their infants from South Brazil, 163 allocated to the intervention group and 160 to the control group. Intervention consisted of sessions on BF and healthy complementary feeding promotion and was carried out in the maternity ward and at home after delivery. Food consumption was assessed using three 24-h food recalls at child's age of 4-7 years. Foods were classified according to NOVA classification. Dietary contribution of UPF was adjusted for intra-individual variability by the SPADE method and categorised into tertiles. We used Poisson regression models with robust variance, adjusted for confounders, to estimate the effect of the intervention and duration of BF on the risk of high consumption of UPF. Our final analysis included 194 children, with mean age of 6·1 (sd 0·5) years. Mean dietary contribution of UPF was 38 % in the intervention group and 42·7 % in the control group, from total daily intakes. Results adjusted for BF duration, propensity score, income and total energy content demonstrated that the intervention reduced the risk of high consumption of UPF by 35 % (relative risk 0·65, 95 % CI 0·43, 0·98). BF duration was not associated with UPF consumption. The intervention was effective in reducing the risk of high UPF consumption at the age of 4-7 years.

Diet quality index for Brazilian adolescents: the ERICA study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the dietary patterns of adolescents using a food-based diet quality index and their compliance with a healthy dietary guideline METHODS: Participants included 71,553 Brazilian adolescents (12-17 years old) from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional school-based multicenter study.. Dietary intake was measured by one 24-h recall. A second recall was collected in a random subsample (~ 10%) to correct within-person variability. The Diet Quality Index for Adolescents adapted for Brazilians (DQIA-BR) was used to measure the overall quality of the dietary intake. The National Cancer Institute method was applied to estimate usual dietary intake. The DQIA-BR and the distribution of its components (quality, diversity, and equilibrium) were analyzed according to sex, geographical area, and type of school RESULTS: The mean (SD) DQIA-BR scores were 14.8% (6.1%) for females and 19.0% (6.3%) for males. All analyzed strata revealed low scores of DQIA-BR and its components. The median usual intake was five to sevenfold below the recommendations for vegetables and fruits and approximately twofold below the recommendations for dairy. The highest DQIA-BR mean scores were found in the northern region [17.0% (6.4%), females; 20.7% (6.3%), males]. Adolescents in both types of schools had relatively similar median intakes of snacks (~ 85 g) and sugared drinks (~ 600 ml) CONCLUSIONS: The overall diet quality of Brazilian adolescents is inadequate based on evaluated parameters in all regions and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Development and Assessment of a Mobile Nutritional Counseling Tool for Primary Care Physicians.

Background:Hypertension remains widely undetected, undertreated, and poorly controlled. Appropriate dietary changes can prevent and treat hypertension effectively. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have the opportunity to counsel patients about their diets and are able to facilitate long-term adherence to changes. However, they encounter several barriers to delivery of evidence-based counseling in daily medical practice. m-Health can make important contributions.Objective:To describe the development and assessment of a Brazilian mobile app for nutritional management of hypertension supported by evidence-based.Materials and Methods:App development used a user-centered approach that seeks to solve problems in a collective and collaborative way. The app was developed in Apache Cordova® (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA) for iOS and Android mobile phone platforms. Beta testing was performed with a sample of Brazilian PCPs (n = 62), who were asked to use the app in routine practice and evaluate it.Results:The process involved researchers, government, PCPs, nutritionists, and designers. Dieta Dash® (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul-UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil) app was divided into following sections: meal evaluation, Healthy meals, Healthy choices, and a database of Healthy recipes. The mean perceived usefulness and ease-of-use scores were 23.3 and 32.3 out of 42, respectively.Conclusions:It is a great source of up-to-date and summary guidelines, usable, acceptable, and positively impact clinical care. PCPs have identified improvements that could make the user experience better. The Dieta Dash app can be incorporated into Brazilian primary care practice.

Total and Full-Fat, but Not Low-Fat, Dairy Product Intakes are Inversely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that dairy products may have beneficial cardiometabolic effects. The current guidelines, however, limit the intake of full-fat dairy products. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of dairy consumption, types of dairy products, and dairy fat content with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). METHODS: We analyzed baseline data of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), a multicenter cohort study of 15,105 adults aged 35-74 y. We excluded participants with known diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or other chronic diseases, and those who had extreme values of energy intake, leaving 9835 for analysis. Dairy consumption was assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire. We computed servings per day for total and subgroups of dairy intake. We computed a metabolic risk score (MetScore) as the mean z score of waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol (negative z score), fasting triglycerides, and fasting glucose. We performed multivariable linear regression to test the association of servings per day of dairy products with MetScore. RESULTS: In analyses that adjusted for demographics, menopausal status, family history of diabetes, dietary intake, nondietary lifestyle factors, and body mass index, we observed a graded inverse association for MetScore with total dairy (-0.044 ± 0.01, P = 0.009 for each additional dairy servings per day) and full-fat dairy (-0.126 ± 0.03, P < 0.001) but not with low-fat dairy intake. Associations were no longer present after additional adjustments for dairy-derived saturated fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS: Total and especially full-fat dairy food intakes are inversely and independently associated with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adults, associations that seem to be mediated by dairy saturated fatty acids. Dietary recommendations to avoid full-fat dairy intake are not supported by our findings.

Lifestyle INtervention for Diabetes prevention After pregnancy (LINDA-Brasil): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a hyperglycemic state detected during pregnancy, is an established risk factor for diabetes. However, treatment during pregnancy in and of itself is not able to eliminate this risk, and a considerable fraction of women with GDM will develop frank diabetes in the decade following pregnancy. Our aim is to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention program implemented after a pregnancy complicated by GDM in delaying or preventing the development of type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Women aged 18 or older identified as having recent GDM are recruited and followed by telephone to assess eligibility for the trial. To be eligible, women must have used insulin during pregnancy or present intermediate hyperglycemia postpartum. Women are encouraged to enter the trial as early as 10 weeks, and are permitted to do so up to 2 years after a pregnancy with GDM. An estimated 740 women will be randomized to either conventional care or to coach-based interventions focused on breastfeeding, weight loss, healthy eating, and increased physical activity, and predominantly delivered by telephone. Women are followed annually to detect new onset diabetes, the primary outcome, and additional secondary outcomes which include reversion to normoglycemia, weight loss, physical activity and fitness, and insulin resistance. DISCUSSION: Though previous studies have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented, no study has yet demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of similar interventions implemented in the postpartum period for women with recent GDM. If shown to be successful, this approach could become an important means of preventing diabetes in primary care settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02327286; Registered 23 December 2014.

FFQ for the adult population of the capital of Ecuador (FFQ-Quito): development, reliability and validity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of a semi-quantitative FFQ designed to evaluate the usual nutrient intake of adults in Quito, Ecuador. DESIGN: Dietary data using 24 h recalls (24hR) were used to design a list of commonly consumed foods. The relative validity of a 111-item FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient intakes against three non-consecutive 24hR. All nutrients were energy-adjusted. Reliability was assessed using two FFQ (FFQ1 and FFQ2) and assessed by the intra-class correlation coefficient. The comparisons between the FFQ and the 24hR were assessed by the de-attenuated Pearson correlation coefficient, weighted kappa and by Bland-Altman plots. SETTING: Quito, Ecuador. SUBJECTS: Overall, 345 adults were enrolled in the present study. Two hundred and fifty participated in FFQ development and ninety-five participated in the FFQ validity and reliability. RESULTS: The FFQ produced higher energy and nutrient intakes. Reliability correlation coefficients after adjusting for energy ranged from 0·62 to 0·88 for protein and Ca, respectively. For the validity study, energy-adjusted and de-attenuated correlation coefficients between the questionnaire and the 24hR ranged from 0·21 for fat to 0·65 for Ca. Only 4 % of the participants were grossly misclassified and 46 % had weighted kappa higher than 0·42. The Bland-Altman plot showed a constant bias with a tendency to increase according to the intake level. CONCLUSIONS: The FFQ showed reasonably good relative validity and reliable measurements, especially for nutrients considered protective and risk markers of non-communicable disease, and can be used to assess usual nutrient intake in this population.

Mobile Application Increased Nutrition Knowledge Among Brazilian Physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether using a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet recommendation application increases primary care physicians' knowledge and dietary counseling skills. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Brazilian public primary care service. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and twenty-two physicians (intervention group: n = 111; control group: n = 111). INTERVENTION: Thirty days of using the Dieta Dash application. The application provides information about nutritional recommendations for hypertension management. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Nutrition knowledge score. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: self-assessment of knowledge, self-confidence, assessment of eating habits, and barriers to dietary counseling. ANALYSIS: Linear mixed-effects models for repeated measures and generalized estimating equations for comparing changes between groups. RESULTS: A total of 66.2% of participants completed the follow-up. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the mean knowledge score (P = 0.15). The prevalence of high knowledge increased by 12% (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.25) in the intervention group and showed an improvement in the self-confidence assessment (PR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.02-1.44), and increased assessment of eating habits (PR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.55). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The Dieta Dash application helped address dietary counseling, improving knowledge and self-confidence. However, innovative strategies are needed to minimize the primary care barriers.

Fibre intake and evolution of BMI: from pre-pregnancy to postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of fibre intake on the evolution of maternal BMI from pregnancy to postpartum and to identify dietary patterns associated with fibre intake. DESIGN: Cohort study. Food intake was obtained using an FFQ. Focused principal component analysis was used focusing on the variables: postpartum weight retention and total dietary fibre intake. Poisson regression models with robust variance were built in order to measure the effect of fibre intake during the postpartum period on obesity risk. SETTING: Primary care clinics in southern Brazil. SUBJECTS: Pregnant women (n 370) were followed until the 5th month postpartum. RESULTS: The highest contribution to fibre intake came from the consumption of beans. Consumption of bread and rice indicated a common Brazilian food pattern along with beans. Participants retained a median of 4.4 (interquartile range 0.6, 7.9) kg of weight gained during pregnancy. Obesity risk, defined as an unfavourable evolution of BMI during pregnancy and postpartum, was present in 189 (55.1%) women. Individual food items did not have an important effect on weight retention. In Poisson regression adjusting for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI and total gestational weight gain, inadequate postpartum fibre intake increased obesity risk by 24% (relative risk 51.24; 95% CI 1.05, 1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Important maternal weight retention occurred in these women. Adequate fibre intake may reduce obesity risk in the period following childbirth.

Dietary Patterns in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period and the Relationship with Maternal Weight up to One Year after Pregnancy Complicated by Gestational Diabetes.

This multicentric cohort study aimed to describe changes in dietary patterns during pregnancy and postpartum and the association with BMI variation at six and twelve months postpartum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Between 2014 and 2018, we enrolled women with GDM in prenatal clinics of the Brazilian National Health System and followed them for one year postpartum. The dietary patterns during pregnancy and the postpartum period were obtained by factorial analysis. The relationship between these patterns and variation in postpartum BMI was evaluated by Poisson regression with robust variance adjusted for confounders. We identified three dietary patterns in 584 women, two healthy (generally healthy and Dash type), which were associated with less weight gain (RR 0.77 CI 95% 0.62-0.96 and RR 0.71 CI 95% 0.57-0.88, respectively). The high-risk pattern (based on ultra-processed, high-calorie foods and sweetened drinks) was associated with weight gain (RR 1.31 CI 95% 1.07-1.61 and RR 1.26 CI 95% 1.01-1.59) in six and twelve months postpartum, respectively. Although the participants learned about healthy dieting during pregnancy, dietary habits worsened from pregnancy to postpartum, especially, with lower consumption of fruits and dairy and higher consumption of sweetened beverages, with consequent weight gain postpartum. Postpartum support is needed to prevent weight gain and obesity.

A Pilot Study of Dietetic, Phenotypic, and Genotypic Features Influencing Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Women with Pregestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbimortality. Dietetic, phenotypic, and genotypic factors influencing HDP were analyzed during a nutrigenetic trial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2016-2020). Pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus (n = 70) were randomly assigned to a traditional or DASH diet group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured during prenatal visits and HDP were diagnosed using international criteria. Phenotypic data were obtained from medical records and personal interviews. Genotyping for FTO and ADRB2 polymorphisms used RT-PCR. Linear mixed-effect models and time-to-event analyses were performed. The variables with significant effect on the risk for progression to HDP were: black skin color (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 8.63, p = 0.01), preeclampsia in previous pregnancy (aHR 11.66, p < 0.01), SBP ≥ 114 mmHg in the third trimester (aHR 5.56, p 0.04), DBP ≥ 70 mmHg in the first trimester (aHR 70.15, p = 0.03), mean blood pressure > 100 mmHg (aHR 18.42, p = 0.03), and HbA1c ≥ 6.41% in the third trimester (aHR 4.76, p = 0.03). Dietetic and genotypic features had no significant effect on the outcome, although there was limited statistical power to test both.

Breastfeeding Rates and Related Factors at 1 Year Postpartum in Women With Gestational Diabetes Initially Recruited for a Diabetes Prevention Program.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim in this study was to evaluate breastfeeding up to 1 year postpartum and factors related to weaning in women with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: We assembled a cohort study of women with GDM enrolled in prenatal clinics of the Brazilian National Health System as possible candidates for the Lifestyle Intervention for Diabetes Prevention After Pregnancy (LINDA-Brasil) postpartum trial (N=2,220). Sociodemographics and clinical and nutritional information, including breastfeeding, were obtained by interview or chart review. Follow-up by telephone was done at specific intervals during the first year postpartum. RESULTS: The probability of breastfeeding at 1 year postpartum, estimated from Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, was 53.5%. Cox regression models showed increased risk of weaning for those introducing milk or formula before 6 months (hazard ratio [HR], 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.10 to 3.09); reporting problems in breastfeeding (HR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.82); being Caucasian (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.21 to 1.76); smoking during pregnancy (HR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.20); and living in 2 southern cities of Brazil (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.16; and HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.58). CONCLUSIONS: About half of the women with GDM ceased breastfeeding before 1 year postpartum, a rate matching that of the general population in Brazil. The main risk factor was not exclusively breastfeeding up to 6 months. Given the possibility of curbing diabetes risk by maintaining longer breastfeeding, further promotion of exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months for these high-risk women is much needed.

Association between breastfeeding and complementary feeding in pre-pandemic and pandemic COVID-19 times: Maternar cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the association between breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding at six months and the introduction of complementary feeding during the pre-pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic periods. METHODS: Cohort study conducted with puerperal women and their newborns in the immediate postpartum period at a reference maternity hospital in Southern Brazil between 2018-2020. The COVID-19 pandemic period and the need to work outside the home during restricted circulation were the factors of exposure. The outcome evaluated was the weaning in the first six months (breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding) and the introduction of complementary feeding before the sixth month of life. RESULTS: 547 puerperal women and their newborns were included. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a higher risk to weaning of exclusive breastfeeding up until six months (RR 1.16; 95%CI 1.03-1.31) and introducing complementary feeding early (RR 1.40; 95%CI 1.01-1.96). The need to work outside the home during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of not breastfeeding exclusively at the sixth month (RR 1.27; 95%CI 1.08-1.49). CONCLUSIONS: The difficulties of the pandemic did reflect negatively on breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. The pandemic was a risk factor for the early weaning of exclusive breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary feeding. However, not having to work outside the home during the pandemic period was a protective factor for exclusive breastfeeding at six months.

Adequacy of prenatal care considering nutritional assistance in Southern Brazil: Maternar Cohort Study.

We verified the prevalence of adequacy in prenatal care considering nutritional assistance and associated factors. It is a cross-sectional study, part of Maternar Cohort Study, conducted between 2018-2019 in Southern Brazil. Women were interviewed during hospitalization in the immediate postpartum period and data were collected from the prenatal chart. Prenatal adequacy and nutritional care were assessed according to criteria from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Two outcome models were constructed. Outcome 1 consisted of minimal coverage (early prenatal start and minimum number of visits) and exams, and Outcome 2 comprised minimal coverage, exams, and nutritional assistance. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios. A total of 802 women were analyzed, and we identified 57% of adequacy of Outcome 1. Unplanned pregnancy (PR = 0.76; 95%CI: 0.68-0.86), parity (PR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.83-0.94) and prenatal care outside Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State (PR = 0.80; 95%CI: 0.69-0.92), were associated with lower prenatal adequacy frequencies. Outcome 2 was considered adequate for 10.2% of women. Follow-up by different professionals during prenatal care was associated with lower adequacy (PR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.28-0.86). Women with high-risk pregnancies had a higher frequency of adequacy in Outcome 1 (PR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.07-1.37) and in Outcome 2 (PR = 1.75; 95%CI: 1.16-2.64). General adequacy was considered low in both outcomes. There was a lack of nutritional assistance during prenatal care. Characteristics such as pregnancy planning, lower parity, prenatal care in Porto Alegre, follow-up by the same professional and high-risk pregnancy were predictors for the adequacy of prenatal care.

Obesity, gestational weight gain, and birth weight in women with gestational diabetes: the LINDA-Brasil (2014-2017) and the EBDG (1991-1995) studies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate gestational weight gain and birth weight in women with gestational diabetes mellitus of two Brazilian cohorts enrolled three decades apart. METHODS: The authors compared data of 2362 women from the Lifestyle INtervention for Diabetes Prevention After Pregnancy study (LINDA-Brasil, 2014-2017) to those of 359 women from the Estudo Brasileiro de Diabetes Gestacional study (EBDG, 1991-1995). Gestational weight gain was classified by the 2009 Institute of Medicine criteria; large and small for gestational age newborns, by the Intergrowth-21st chart. Differences in birth weight means between pregestational BMI and gestational weight gain categories were evaluated by ANOVA; the associations of gestational weight gain and birth weight, through multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS: In LINDA-Brasil, women presented higher pregestational body mass index (30.3±6.5 vs. 24.6±4.4kg/m2) and were frequently obese (46.4 vs. 11.1%) compared to those of the EBDG. In the EBDG, gestational weight gain was larger (11.3±6.1 vs. 9.2±7.6kg) and rates of small for gestational age higher (7.5 vs. 4.5%) compared to LINDA-Brasil. In LINDA-Brasil, excessive gestational weight gain was associated to macrosomia (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 1.59, 95% CI 1.08-2.35) and large for gestational age (aRR: 1.40; 95% CI 1.05-1.86); less gain increased the risk of low birth weight (aRR: 1.66; 95% CI 1.05-2.62) and small for gestational age (aRR: 1.79; 95% CI 1.03-3.11). These associations were similar in the EBDG, although not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in gestational weight gain and rates of small for gestational age occurred over time in gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies, accompanied by a worsening in maternal weight profile. This highlights the nutritional transition during this period and the importance of avoiding excessive gestational weight gain as well as promoting adequate weight before conception.

Nutrition, mental health and violence: from pregnancy to postpartum Cohort of women attending primary care units in Southern Brazil--ECCAGE study.

BACKGROUND: Woman's nutritional status, before and during pregnancy, is a strong determinant of health outcomes in the mother and newborn. Gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention increases risk of overweight or obesity in the future and they depend on the pregestational nutritional status and on food consumption and eating behavior during pregnancy. Eating behavior during pregnancy may be the cause or consequence of mood changes during pregnancy, especially depression, which increases likelihood of postpartum depression. In Brazil, a study carried out in the immediate postpartum period found that one in three women experienced some type of violence during pregnancy. Violence and depression are strongly associated and both exposures during pregnancy are associated with increased maternal stress and subsequent harm to the infant. The main objectives of this study are: to identify food intake and eating behaviors patterns; to estimate the prevalence of common mental disorders and the experience of violence during and after pregnancy; and to estimate the association between these exposures and infant's health and development. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a cohort study of 780 pregnant women receiving care in 18 primary care units in two cities in Southern Brazil. Pregnant women were first evaluated between the 16th and 36th week of pregnancy at a prenatal visit. Follow-up included immediate postpartum assessment and around the fifth month postpartum. Information was obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, living circumstances, food intake, eating behaviors, mental health and exposure to violence, and on infant's development and anthropometrics measurements. DISCUSSION: This project will bring relevant information for a better understanding of the relationship between exposures during pregnancy and how they might affect child development, which can be useful for a better planning of health actions aiming to enhance available resources in primary health care.

Violence and depressive symptoms during pregnancy: a primary care study in Brazil.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of violence, depressive symptoms, and associated factors during pregnancy in women attending antenatal care in Brazil. METHODS: Violence was assessed using a modified version of the abuse assessment screen (ASS), and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the primary care evaluation of mental disorders (PRIME-MD). Participants were pregnant women attending 18 primary care units in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between June 2006 and April 2007. A total of 712 pregnant women participated, but only 627 of them responded the ASS. RESULTS: Experience of any lifetime violence was reported by 273 (43.4%) women and 114 (18.2%) reported violence during the current pregnancy. One-third of them (n = 211) reported lifetime domestic violence and 100 (15.9%) women reported this type of violence during the current pregnancy. Experience of domestic violence during pregnancy was more common in unemployed women, among those with two or more children, with a higher consumption of alcohol, and who had not planned their current pregnancy. Of the total of sample (n = 712), 198 (27.8%) women reported six or more depressive symptoms. The presence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy was associated with low educational levels, living in a household with five or more people, and with higher consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Pregnant women attending primary care are exposed to high rates of domestic violence, and many have clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Appropriate interventions to avoid or minimize the effects of violence and mental disorders to the well-being of the mothers and their babies are urgently required. Primary care services play an important role in identifying and supporting women at risk.

Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancy Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: a Matched Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: To compare perinatal outcomes and to assess the predictors of birth weight (BW) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) to those women unexposed to bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Singleton births from women submitted to RYGB (BSG) were matched to two control births by maternal age, delivery year, and gender. Control group 1 (CG1) and control group 2 (CG2) were selected according to the prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2 and ≥ 35 kg/m2, respectively, without previous bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Fifty-eight pregnancies were evaluated in each group (n = 174). Neonates born after RYGB presented lower BW compared to CG1 (mean difference - 182.3 g; 95% CI - 333; - 31, P = 0.018) and CG2 (mean difference - 306.6 g, 95% CI - 502; - 111, P = 0.02). Although gestational age (GA) was similar (P = 0.219), fetal growth rate (in grams) per gestational week was higher in CG2 (ß = 196.27, P < 0.001) vs. BSG (ß = 127.65, P < 0.001), irrespective of gestational weight gain (GWG). Pregnancies post-RYGB showed lower GWG, lower BW, and higher prevalence of cesarean section than CG1 and were associated with lower BW, smaller cephalic perimeter, lower prevalence of macrosomia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes than CG2. CONCLUSION: Birth weight was higher in neonates from women with higher prepregnancy BMI, as compared to births from women submitted to RYGB, irrespective of GWG. Although nearly half of the RYGB mothers were classified with obesity at conception, those pregnancies were associated with better obstetric and neonatal outcomes than among women with prepregnancy BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 who had never undergone RYGB.

Factors Associated With Breastfeeding Among Women With Gestational Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding offers benefits to mother and child but is frequently not practiced among women whose pregnancy is complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus. Factors associated with not initiating or not maintaining breastfeeding among these women have been little investigated. RESEARCH AIMS: (1) To evaluate the frequency of breastfeeding for 30 days among women with a recent pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes and (2) to determine factors associated with not initiating or not maintaining breastfeeding. METHODS: Between January 2014 and July 2017 we enrolled women with gestational diabetes at high-risk prenatal services in three Brazilian cities. We collected baseline sociodemographic and health data and followed up with participants by telephone. Using Kaplan-Meier curves, we calculated the proportions of participants not initiating breastfeeding or not maintaining it for at least 30 days. We used Poisson regression with robust variance to identify factors related to this outcome. RESULTS: Of the 2328 participants with complete information, 2236 (96.1%) initiated breastfeeding, and 2166 (93.1%) maintained breastfeeding for 30 days. Not having breastfed the previous infant (relative risk [RR] = 5.02, 95% CI [3.39, 7.45]), smoking during pregnancy (RR = 2.37, 95% CI [1.48, 3.80]), infant with health problems (RR = 2.25, 95% CI [1.27, 3.99]), early preterm birth (RR = 2.49, 95% CI [1.07, 5.77]), and not intending to breastfeed (RR = 3.73, 95% CI [1.89, 7.33]) were related to not maintaining breastfeeding for at least 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Breastfeeding initiation was nearly universal among participants, and most maintained breastfeeding for 30 days. Factors relating to not breastfeeding at 30 days were easily identifiable.

Inappropriate eating behaviors during pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors among pregnant women attending primary care in southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of inappropriate eating behaviors and associated factors among pregnant women in primary care. METHOD: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was used to assess eating disorders and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders was used to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms. Body mass index (BMI) and pregestational weight were also assessed. RESULTS: Prevalence of binge eating during pregnancy was 17.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 14.5-20.0], followed by excessive shape (5.6%; 95% CI 4-8) and weight concerns (5.5%; 95% CI 4-8). Binge eating during pregnancy was significantly associated with binge eating before pregnancy [prevalence ratio (PR) = 3.1; 95% CI 2.2-4.3], current anxiety symptoms (PR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.4), and prepregnancy BMI < 19.8 kg/m(2) (PR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.5). The prevalence of eating disorders was 0.6% (95% CI 0.01-1.11). DISCUSSION: Eating disorder symptoms should be routinely assessed and treated during prenatal care, along with other comorbid psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety.