Birth in Brazil II: a postpartum maternal, paternal and child health research protocol

Pregnancy, parturition and birth bring major changes to the lives of mothers and fathers. This article presents a research protocol for estimating the prevalence of postpartum mental health outcomes in mothers and fathers, abuse and satisfaction in delivery/abortion care, and the correlations between them and socioeconomic, obstetric, and child health factors. As a 2-component research, it consists of a prospective cohort study with all postpartum women interviewed in the 465 maternity hospitals included at the Birth in Brazil II baseline survey conducted from 2021 to 2023, and a cross-sectional study with the newborns' fathers/partners. Interviews will be conducted via telephone or self-completion link sent by WhatsApp with the mother at 2 and 4 months after delivery/abortion. Partners will be approached three months after birth (excluding abortions, stillbirths and newborn death) using the telephone number informed by the mother at the maternity ward. Postpartum women will be inquired about symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, abuse during maternity care and quality of the mother-newborn bond. Maternal and neonatal morbidity, use of postnatal services, and satisfaction with maternity care are also investigated. Fathers will be asked to report on symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the quality of the relationship with the partner and the newborn. The information collected in this research stage may help to plan and improve care aimed at the postpartum health of the mother-father-child triad.

Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with sociodemographic, behavioral, and obstetric factors: A cohort study

A diet based on ultra-processed food (UPF) does not meet nutritional needs, especially during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the change in UPF consumption from preconception to pregnancy and associated factors. Our hypothesis is that women tend to adopt a healthier eating pattern during pregnancy, decreasing the intake of UPF and increasing the intake of unprocessed/minimally processed foods. A prospective cohort study with 326 participants was carried out from 2016 to 2019 in 2 health units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pregestational food consumption assessed using the food frequency questionnaire in the prenatal interview in women up to 20 gestational weeks and gestational consumption in the interview 2 months after delivery. Food items classified according to the NOVA system. For the mean variation from preconception to gestational UPF consumption, we used the generalized estimating equations model with linear distribution. Control of confounding variables was based on the literature on factors associated with UPF consumption, using a 3-level hierarchical model. The proportion of UPF energy consumption was 28.9% in preconception and 33% during pregnancy. Older and more educated women had a lower mean variation in the consumption of UPF during the pregnancy. A higher average consumption of UPF observed among women physically inactive before pregnancy, who smoked during pregnancy, were multiparous, and with had a low pregestational weight. These results reflect similar behavior to that of the general population, aggravated by a significant increase during pregnancy. However, older and more educated women and those with healthy behaviors showed lower UPF intake in pregnancy.

Factors associated with ultra-processed foods consumption in a cohort of Brazilian pregnant women

Nutrition during pregnancy is essential for the health of the pregnant woman, the development of the fetus, and the prevention of complications related to pregnancy and the postpartum period. This study described the factors associated with high consumption of ultra-processed foods among pregnant women. This prospective cohort study was performed from February 2016 to November 2019 in two health units in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with data from 344 pregnant women. The first interview was conducted in the prenatal visit at less than 20 gestational weeks, the second at 34 gestational weeks, and the third at two months postpartum. Diet was assessed in the last interview using a food frequency questionnaire, and food items were classified according to NOVA. The percentage of ultra-processed foods consumption was estimated by tertile distribution, and the third tertile represented the highest consumption. Based on the hierarchical analysis model, the associations between ultra-processed foods consumption and sociodemographic, reproductive health, pregestational, behavioral, and pregnancy variables were assessed using a multinomial logistic regression model. Older women had lower ultra-processed foods consumption (OR = 0.33; 95%CI: 0.15-0.71). Few years of schooling (up to 7 years; OR = 5.58; 95%CI: 1.62-19.23), history of a previous childbirth (OR = 2.48; 95%CI: 1.22-5.04), history of two or more previous childbirths (OR = 7.53; 95%CI: 3.02-18.76), and no history of regular physical activity before pregnancy (OR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.31-4.38) were risk factors. The identification of risk and protection factors allows for the establishment of control measures and encouragement of healthy practices during prenatal care.