Alimentação e condições sociais: consumo de ultraprocessados por gestantes de alto risco

Abstract

The modern lifestyle has encouraged the search for practicality and lower cost in food. Considering the importance of nutrition for human health, the increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has raised concerns, especially among high-risk pregnant women, who may have their health condition aggravated by an inadequate diet. This study, developed from the university extension project “Health Promotion for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treated at HULW/UFPB”, aimed to analyze the relationship between education, family income and the consumption of UPF by high-risk pregnant women treated at the Women's Health Unit of the Lauro Wanderley University Hospital (HULW/UFPB), in João Pessoa - PB. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, with sampling defined from sample calculation, involving 196 pregnant women aged between 13 and 46 years. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, using a structured questionnaire applied with the help of the researcher, and analyzed using SPSS software (version 26) using descriptive statistics. The results showed that most pregnant women had completed high school, earned between 1 and 2 minimum wages, and were outside the age extremes associated with obstetric risk. Moderate consumption of UPF was observed. Higher consumption was observed among pregnant women with lower levels of education, while income did not show a clear pattern of association. These findings reinforce the influence of educational factors on food choices during pregnancy and point to the importance of deepening this relationship in future studies. In addition, they highlight the need for public policies aimed at nutritional education for pregnant women in vulnerable situations, with the aim of promoting healthier eating habits and reducing risks to maternal and child health.