Adherence to dietary recommendations of Italian pregnant women and sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles: results of a cross-sectional study

Lisa De Pasquale; Caterina Garuti; Lucia Palandri; Laura Lucaccioni; Viola Trevisani; Marta Anna Casalucci; Umberto Cattini; Fabio Facchinetti; Lorenzo Iughetti; Tommaso Filippini; Antonio La Marca; Annalisa Bargellini; Elena Righi

doi:10.23750/abm.v96i3.17052

Authors

Lisa De Pasquale Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2056-6961
Caterina Garuti Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Lucia Palandri Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Laura Lucaccioni Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Viola Trevisani Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Marta Anna Casalucci Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Umberto Cattini Program of Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases, Pediatric Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Fabio Facchinetti Department of Mother and Infant, AOU Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Lorenzo Iughetti Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of the Mother, Children and Adults, Neonatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Tommaso Filippini Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy; School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
Antonio La Marca Department of Mother and Infant, AOU Modena, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Annalisa Bargellini Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Elena Righi Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy

Keywords:

nutrition recommendations, dietary habits, pregnancy, sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract

Background and aim: Unhealthy dietary habits during pregnancy can lead to immediate and future adverse health consequences for mother and child. Italian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SIGO) promulgated nutritional recommendations to promote correct food intake for future mothers. The study aimed to assess the adherence to dietary recommendations during the 3^rd trimester of pregnancy and to evaluate the role of maternal characteristics and lifestyles.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated dietary habits in a sample of women representative of physiologic pregnancies (n=572, mean age 33.4±5.2 y) living in Modena (Italy). Maternal diet (food consumption frequency), lifestyles and sociodemographic features were assessed by a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and bivariate associations (Chi-square tests) were performed.

Results: Adherence to SIGO recommendations varied among food categories. The highest compliance was observed for coffee/tea (93.5%), alcohol (76.6%) and white meat (63.6%). Adherence between 40-60% were observed for sweets (45.1%), bread/pasta/cereals (48.6%) and processed meat (56.8%), while adherence between 20-40% was highlighted for cheese (24.5%), potatoes (25.7%), eggs (25.9%), legumes (28.8%), fruit/vegetables (32.5%) and fish/seafood (38.8%). The lowest adherence was reported for milk/yogurt (15.4%) and red meat (17.3%). Smoking, younger age, lower educational level and unemployment appeared negatively influence adherence, including fruit/vegetables, fish, processed meat, alcohol, tea/coffee and soft drinks.

Conclusions: Adherence to dietary recommendations among Italian pregnant women appeared low and influenced by several socio-demographic features and lifestyles. Targeted interventions and public health strategies to enhance maternal nutrition need to be implemented or reinforced to sustain women and children health, especially in most vulnerable groups.

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