PD132 - DIET, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF PREGNANT IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MADEIRA

PD132

DIET, NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND FOOD AND NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF PREGNANT IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION OF MADEIRA

P. Gomes¹, A. Rodrigues¹, B. Sousa^1,*

¹Nutrition Service - Health Service of Automous Region of Madeira , Funchal, Portugal

Rationale: Pregnancy is a crucial phase for maternal and fetal health, requiring adequate eating habits and good nutritional knowledge. In the Autonomous Region of Madeira, there is little data on these dimensions. The aim of this study was to assess the diet, nutritional status and food and nutritional knowledge of pregnant women monitored at the Health Service of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Methods: This is a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study, conducted between May and August 2025, with data collected through an anonymous questionnaire covering sociodemographic data, eating habits, nutritional status, and nutritional knowledge.

Results: The sample consisted of 62 pregnant women, and a high prevalence of overweight at preconception (72.6%) was observed. Although most participants recognized the influence of diet on the baby's health, gaps in nutritional knowledge were identified, especially regarding iodine, hydration, and weight gain recommendations. The level of education and follow-up in nutrition consultations were associated with greater nutritional literacy and better adherence to recommendations. Insufficient consumption of vegetables, cereals, and water was also observed.

Conclusion: It is concluded that, despite generally adequate habits, gaps in knowledge persist and there is a high prevalence of overweight before conception, reinforcing the need to promote nutritional education and monitoring before and during pregnancy.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared