The perception of pregnant women on child malnutrition: focus on the specificities of the gestation

Objective: To understand the perception of pregnant women about child malnutrition and to identify food habits and specificities of the gestation period. Methods: A descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach, held at the Nucleus of Integrated Medical Attention - NAMI - Fortaleza-Ceará-Brazil, in the period of 2005 – 2006. The informers were seven undernourished pregnant women aged 15 to 35 years old. Data collection was carried out by means of prenatal consultation, a semi-structured interview and domiciliary visits. By applying the continent analysis of Bardin, the following thematic categories aroused: “Irregular feeding habits”; “Portraying the pregnancy” and “Child malnutrition as a stigma”. Results: The testimonies disclosed the misinformation about the gestation physiologic alterations, besides the involvement with many partners and family conflicts, the lack of acceptance of the father in the child care, the lack of knowledge about the severity of the pathology and on conditions to prevent it. Conclusion: Pregnant women perceive the child malnutrition as a stigma due to the need of special care; as well as the beliefs and cultural values influence on the gestation malnutrition, which is directly related to social and economic status.