Insegurança alimentar, qualidade de vida e ansiedade em mulheres gestantes e não gestantes

Abstract

Access to food is a human right regulated by law, fostered through public policies that promote Food and Nutritional Security (SAN). Although FNS is a widely recognized right, food insecurity is a problem that persists in Brazilian society, affecting the most vulnerable populations and groups more frequently, and may also directly and proportionally influence the perception of quality of life and anxiety. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and its effects on the perception of quality of life and anxiety of pregnant and non-pregnant women. This is a quantitative epidemiological study, which used data from a prospective cohort study, called "Cause and effect relationships between food insecurity and health conditions", carried out from 2018 to 2020. Sociodemographic data were collected, situation regarding food security, quality of life and level of anxiety of 275 pregnant and non-pregnant women recruited from Basic Health Units located in the city of João Pessoa/PB. According to the present research, the evaluated total quality of life domains decreased at the expense of the increase in the severity of food insecurity. When classified in a situation of food security, women demonstrated to have better perceptions of quality of life. It was also observed that the study participants classified as having some degree of food insecurity had greater perceptions of anxiety in relation to those who fit into a situation of food security. The results show that limiting access to food in adequate quantity and quality can reduce the perception of quality of life, physical and psychological health and general well-being. With this, it is clear the need to encourage and promote research and public policies regarding the theme of food insecurity and its consequences for physical, biological, mental and social aspects, thus aiming at better multidisciplinary and governmental assistance to women in pregnancy or not, who are in a situation of social vulnerability.