Segurança alimentar e nutricional e saúde de gestantes do município de Santa Cruz, RN

Abstract

Globalization caused changes in the population's social and consumption profiles; along with this, there was the creation and institution of the National Food and Nutrition Policy, aiming to ensure the rights to health and healthy eating. However, the weakening of public policies related to food and a health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic are strong factors for the increase in food insecurity rates in households, especially those headed by women. The purpose of this study is to look into the health and food and nutritional security of pregnant women who use primary health care in the municipality of Santa Cruz, RN. This is a cross-sectional study that seeks information regarding the conditions of access to food, anthropometric data, and health perceptions of pregnant women through a structured questionnaire adapted for this purpose. A high prevalence of food insecurity was identified among pregnant women (70.6%), along with an association between food insecurity and chronic non-communicable diseases and social assistance programs. It is noted that despite advances as a society, there are still social determinants strongly related to food and nutritional insecurity in the population, especially in the most vulnerable portion. This study emphasizes the need to implement and expand public policies that guarantee the human right to adequate and healthy food, which is seriously violated.